Targeted fortification with human milk analysis: An opportunity for innovation

Stephanie Merlino Barr; Sharon Groh-Wargo

doi:10.1016/j.siny.2022.101392

Targeted fortification with human milk analysis: An opportunity for innovation

Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022 Oct;27(5):101392. doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2022.101392. Epub 2022 Sep 13.

Authors

Stephanie Merlino Barr¹, Sharon Groh-Wargo²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: smerlino@metrohealth.org.
² Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: sharon.groh-wargo@case.edu.

PMID: 36137922
DOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2022.101392

Abstract

Human milk's variable macronutrient composition is a necessary consideration when caring for very low birthweight infants. Targeted fortification is the practice of fortifying human milk using its known composition from human milk analysis, rather than its assumed macronutrient values. Utilization of human milk analyzers to measure the protein, fat, lactose, and energy composition within human milk samples has allowed the translation of this practice into the clinical setting. This review discusses the rationale of why targeted fortification is an important practice, what barriers exist in its implementation in the clinical setting, and what research gaps remain to be addressed.

Keywords: Food; Fortified infant; Human translational research; Premature infant; Very low birth weight milk.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Food, Fortified / analysis
Humans
Infant
Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature*
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
Milk, Human*