Skip to main content

Fat loss in thawed breast milk: Comparison between refrigerator and warm water

Indian Pediatrics volume 49, pages 877–880 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To compare the fat loss between refrigerator and warm water thawed breast milk.

Design

Experimental.

Setting

Tertiary-care pediatric university hospital.

Participants

Ninety samples of expressed breast milk were collected from mothers with singleton babies of a gestational age 32–42 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures

Fat content in fresh breast milk (FM); thawed breast milk by refrigeration (RM); and thawed breast milk by warm water (WM).

Results

The mean (SD) total fat content in FM, RM and WM were 2.98 (0.97), 2.76 (0.99) and 2.66 (0.88) g/100 mL, respectively. The mean difference (SD) of the total fat in FM declined significantly after the frozen milk was thawed by refrigeration or warm water at −0.22 (0.50) g/100 mL (P=0.0001) and −0.32 (0.45) g/100 mL (P<0.0001), respectively. The mean (SD) total fat loss of frozen breast milk thawed by refrigeration was less than thawing in warm water at 0.094 (0.38) g/100 mL (P=0.02).

Conclusion

The fat loss of thawed breast milk by refrigeration was significantly less than placing it in warm water.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Gartner LM, Morton J, Lawrence RA, Naylor AJ, O’Hare D, Schanler RJ, et al. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics. 2005;115:496–506.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Lawrence RA, Lawrence RM. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession. 7th ed. Maryland Heights: Elsevier Mosby; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  3. American Academy of Pediatrics. Breastfeeding. In: Kleinman RE, editor. Pediatric Nutrition Handbook. 6th ed. Elk Grove Village: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009. p.51–60.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Donoram SM. Human milk: nutritional properties. In: Duggan C, Watkins JB, Walker WA, editors. Nutrition in Pediatrics 4: Basic Science, Clinical Applications. 4th ed. Hamilton: BC Decker; 2008. p.341–354.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Aksit S, Ozkayin N, Caglayan S. Effect of sucking characteristics on breast milk creamatocrit. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2002;16:355–360.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Rueda R, Ramirez M, Garcia-Salmeron JL, Maldonado J, Gil A. Gestational age and origin of human milk influence total lipid and fatty acid contents. Ann Nutr Metab. 1998;42:12–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lubetzky R, Mimouni FB, Dollberg S, Salomon M, Mandel D. Consistent circadian variations in creamatocrit over the first 7 weeks of lactation: a longitudinal study. Breastfeed Med. 2007;2:15–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Arnold LDW. Human milk in the NICU: Policy into Practice. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Berkow SE, Freed LM, Hamosh M, Bitman J, Wood DL, Happ B, et al. Lipases and lipids in human milk: effect of freeze-thawing and storage. Pediatr Res. 1984;18:1257–1262.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kleyn DH, Lynch JM, Barbano DM, Bloom MJ, Mitchell MW. Determination of fat in raw and processed milks by the Gerber method: collaborative study. J AOAC Int. 2001;84:1499–1508.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wang CD, Chu PS, Mellen BG, Shenai JP. Creamatocrit and the nutrient composition of human milk. J Perinatol. 1999;19:343–346.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jackson DA, Imong SM, Silprasert A, Preunglumpoo S, Leelapat P, Yootabootr Y, et al. Estimation of 24 h breastmilk fat concentration and fat intake in rural northern Thailand. Br J Nutr. 1988;59:365–371.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Jackson DA, Imong SM, Silprasert A, Ruckphaopunt S, Woolridge MW, Baum JD, et al. Circadian variation in fat concentration of breast-milk in a rural northern Thai population. Br J Nutr. 1988;59:349–363.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hamosh M, Ellis LA, Pollock DR, Henderson TR, Hamosh P. Breastfeeding and the working mother: effect of time and temperature of short-term storage on proteolysis, lipolysis, and bacterial growth in milk. Pediatrics. 1996;97:492–498.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lavine M, Clark RM. Changing patterns of free fatty acids in breast milk during storage. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1987;6:769–774.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hamosh M, Henderson TR, Ellis LA, Mao JI, Hamosh P. Digestive enzymes in human milk: stability at suboptimal storage temperatures. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1997;24:38–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Silprasert A, Dejsarai W, Keawvichit R, Amatayakul K. Effect of storage on the creamatocrit and total energy content of human milk. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr. 1987;41:31–36.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Tacken KJ, Vogelsang A, van Lingen RA, Slootstra J, Dikkeschei BD, van Zoeren-Grobben D. Loss of triglycerides and carotenoids in human milk after processing. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2009;94:F447–F450.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Fidler N, Sauerwald TU, Koletzko B, Demmelmair H. Effects of human milk pasteurization and sterilization on available fat content and fatty acid composition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1998;27:317–322.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Henderson TR, Fay TN, Hamosh M. Effect of pasteurization on long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid levels and enzyme activities of human milk. J Pediatr. 1998;132:876–878.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Goff D. Dairy Chemistry and Physics. Dairy Science and Technology Education, University of Guelph, Canada. Available from: www.foodsci.uoguelph.ca/dairyedu/home.html. Accessed on 1 August, 2011.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

    Anucha Thatrimontrichai, W. Janjindamai & M. Puwanant

  2. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, 15 Karnjanavanit Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla Province, Thailand, 90110

    Anucha Thatrimontrichai

Authors
  1. Anucha Thatrimontrichai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. Janjindamai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Puwanant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anucha Thatrimontrichai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thatrimontrichai, A., Janjindamai, W. & Puwanant, M. Fat loss in thawed breast milk: Comparison between refrigerator and warm water. Indian Pediatr 49, 877–880 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-012-0219-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-012-0219-x

Key words

  • Breast milk
  • Fat content
  • Refrigeration
  • Thawing