Kimberly H Barbas1, Kendra O'Brien2, Peter W Forbes3, Mandy B Belfort4,5, Jean Anne Connor2, Ravi R Thiagarajan2,5, Susanna Y Huh5,6. 1. Lactation Support Program, Department of Nursing Patient Services, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 2. Cardiovascular and Critical Care Patient Services, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 3. Clinical Research Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 4. Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 5. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 6. Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Infants with chylothorax after congenital heart disease surgery are commonly treated using modified-fat breast milk. The effect of fat removal on breast milk macronutrients remains unclear. We compared macronutrient content of breast milk with breast milk skimmed using 3 methods, including a novel device, a cream separator. METHODS: Thawed frozen breast milk samples from 30 women were defatted using refrigerated centrifuge, cream separator, and manual separation after refrigeration. We used standard assays to measure energy, protein, and fat content of breast milk samples. RESULTS: All fat removal methods yielded skimmed breast milk with substantially lower fat and energy content. Mean energy content in breast milk skimmed by centrifuge (36.7 [SD 3.6] kcal/100 mL) was similar to that from cream separator (38.8 [3.5] kcal/100 mL). Both centrifuge and cream separator methods removed almost all fat and substantially more fat than the manual fat removal method. For unprocessed milk, energy and fat content estimated by creamatocrit was similar to reference method measurements; in skimmed milk, the creamatocrit significantly overestimated fat content. Mean protein content of skimmed breast milk was similar to unprocessed breast milk (mean 1.25 [0.31] g/100 mL). CONCLUSION: Breast milk fat removal did not significantly alter protein levels. In skimmed breast milk, the overestimation of fat content using creamatocrit method suggests a need for more accurate bedside methods to assess macronutrient content. The similar macronutrient composition of breast milk skimmed by cream separator and centrifuge suggests the potential for cream separator use as a new, portable defatting method for hospitals and families.
BACKGROUND:Infants with chylothorax after congenital heart disease surgery are commonly treated using modified-fat breast milk. The effect of fat removal on breast milk macronutrients remains unclear. We compared macronutrient content of breast milk with breast milk skimmed using 3 methods, including a novel device, a cream separator. METHODS: Thawed frozen breast milk samples from 30 women were defatted using refrigerated centrifuge, cream separator, and manual separation after refrigeration. We used standard assays to measure energy, protein, and fat content of breast milk samples. RESULTS: All fat removal methods yielded skimmed breast milk with substantially lower fat and energy content. Mean energy content in breast milk skimmed by centrifuge (36.7 [SD 3.6] kcal/100 mL) was similar to that from cream separator (38.8 [3.5] kcal/100 mL). Both centrifuge and cream separator methods removed almost all fat and substantially more fat than the manual fat removal method. For unprocessed milk, energy and fat content estimated by creamatocrit was similar to reference method measurements; in skimmed milk, the creamatocrit significantly overestimated fat content. Mean protein content of skimmed breast milk was similar to unprocessed breast milk (mean 1.25 [0.31] g/100 mL). CONCLUSION: Breast milk fat removal did not significantly alter protein levels. In skimmed breast milk, the overestimation of fat content using creamatocrit method suggests a need for more accurate bedside methods to assess macronutrient content. The similar macronutrient composition of breast milk skimmed by cream separator and centrifuge suggests the potential for cream separator use as a new, portable defatting method for hospitals and families.
Authors: Allison I Daniel; Sara Shama; Samantha Ismail; Celine Bourdon; Alex Kiss; Martha Mwangome; Robert H J Bandsma; Deborah L O'Connor Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2021-04-06 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Kārlis Bērziņš; Samuel D L Harrison; Claudia Leong; Sara J Fraser-Miller; Michelle J Harper; Aly Diana; Rosalind S Gibson; Lisa A Houghton; Keith C Gordon Journal: Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc Date: 2020-09-23 Impact factor: 4.098