Objective: To identify changes in macronutrient content of very preterm human milk associated with perinatal factors.
Study design: Milk macronutrients were measured on weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8 with mid-infrared transmission spectrometers.
Result: We assessed 625 samples (from 117 mothers and 130 very preterm infants). Average concentrations were: protein 1.3 ± 0.3 g/dl, carbohydrates 7.3 ± 0.6 g/dl, fat 3.7 ± 1.0 g/dl and energy 296.0 ± 41.0 kJ/dl (70.7 kcal/dl). Gestational age negatively correlated with protein (rho: -0.307, p < 0.001) and energy (r: -0.193, p = 0.003). Advanced maternal age, gestational age and intrauterine growth restriction were independently associated with milk protein content over the first 4 weeks (adjusted R2: 0.113, p = 0.002).
Conclusion: These findings may help neonatologists identify patients fed Mother´s Own Milk who are at increased risk of poor postnatal growth.
© 2022. The Author(s).