Background: Historically, Holder pasteurization has been used to pasteurize donor human milk available in a hospital setting. There is extensive resea

Background: During pumping, storage, and pasteurization human milk is exposed to light, which could affect the concentrations of light-sensitive vitamins. Currently, milk banks do not regulate light exposure. Research Aim: The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of light exposure during pumping, storage, and pasteurization on (1) macronutrients, (2) select water-soluble vitamins, and (3) select fat-soluble vitamins. Methods: All 13 participants donated 4 milk samples each. Each sample underwent 1 of 4 treatments: raw and light protected, raw and light exposed, pasteurized and light protected, and pasteurized and light exposed. Samples were analyzed for macronutrients and Vitamins B₁, B₂, retinol, γ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol, and β-carotene. Results: β-carotene concentrations were not influenced by light exposure. Vitamin B₁ was significantly ( p < 0.05) affected by light-exposure ( M = 0.23, SD = 0.01mg/L) compared to light-protected ( M = 0.27, SD = 0.01mg/L) samples. Vitamin B₂ concentrations were reduced ( p < 0.05) by light-exposure in raw ( M = 62.1, SD = 0.61µg/L) and pasteurized ( M = 73.7, SD = 0.72µg/L) samples compared to light-protected raw samples ( M = 99.7, SD = 0.66µg/L). No other tested nutrients were affected by light exposure. Conclusions: If milk is exposed to excessive amounts of light, Vitamins B₁ and B₂ concentrations may degrade below the current Adequate Intake recommendations for infants 0–6 months of age, increasing the risk of insufficient vitamin supply to the exclusively human milk-fed infant. Thus, pumped or processed human milk should be protected from light to preserve milk vitamin concentrations.

Background. Like many species, pregnant swine mobilize and repartition body nutrient stores during extreme malnutrition to support fetal development.Ob

For-profit donor human milk organizations have DNA-based proprietary methodology for testing incoming milk for adulteration with other species’ milk. However, there is currently no standardized methodology for extracting DNA from human milk. Microbiome research has shown that DNA purity and quantity can vary depending on the extraction methodology and storage conditions. This study assessed the purity and quantity of DNA extracted from four commercially available DNA extraction kits—including one kit that was developed for human milk. This study was for method validation only. One donor provided a 90 mL human milk sample. The sample was aliquoted into 70 × 1 mL microcentrifuge tubes. Aliquots were randomized into one of three categories: fresh extraction, extraction after freezing, and extraction after purification and storage at room temperature. DNA was analyzed for purity and quantity using a NanoDrop Spectrophotometer. Results confirmed differences in DNA purity and quantity between extraction kits. The Plasma/Serum Circulating DNA Purification Mini Kit (Norgen Biotek, ON, Canada) provided significantly more DNA, and consistent purity as measured by 260/280 and 260/230 ratios. DNA quantity and purity were similar between fresh and frozen human milk samples. These results suggest that DNA purity and quantity is highest and most consistent when extracted from human milk using the Plasma/Serum Circulating DNA Purification Mini Kit amongst the kits tested in this study. Standardized methodology for extracting DNA from human milk is necessary for improvement of research in the field of human milk. To do this, future studies are recommended for optimization of DNA extraction from human milk using larger sample sizes and multiple donor parents.