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Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings
Published on: February 7, 2025
Bactericidal activity of human milk: stability during storage
D Silvestre1, M C López, L March
1Department of Food Science and Technology. Cardenal Herrera-CEU, Edificio Seminario Spain. dsilves@uch.ceu.es
British Journal of Biomedical Science
|July 29, 2006
Summary
Human milk possesses bactericidal activity, crucial for infant defense against infections. This antibacterial property remains stable for 48 hours of refrigeration but diminishes after 72 hours, favoring freezing for longer storage.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Neonatal Health
Background:
- Human milk contains vital defensive factors for infant health.
- Understanding the stability of these factors during milk handling is crucial for infant nutrition.
- Bactericidal activity in human milk offers protection against common infant illnesses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the global bactericidal activity in fresh human milk.
- To evaluate the stability of this activity following milk manipulation and refrigeration.
- To assess potential alterations in bactericidal capacity due to milk storage.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 19 mature human milk samples from healthy women.
- Bactericidal effect determination using Escherichia coli NCTC 9111 viability testing.
- Quantification of bacteriolysis percentage based on E. coli counts.
- Evaluation of milk bactericidal capacity after refrigeration (4-6°C for 24, 48, 72 hours) and freezing (-20°C for 7 days).
Main Results:
- All analyzed human milk samples exhibited significant bactericidal activity (77.33 ± 15.14%).
- Bactericidal capacity was maintained after 48 hours of refrigeration and 10 days of freezing.
- A significant decrease in bactericidal activity was observed after 72 hours of refrigeration.
Conclusions:
- Maternal milk possesses inherent bactericidal properties, offering essential protection against infections for newborns.
- Milk storage conditions can impact its crucial bactericidal capacity.
- For storage exceeding 48 hours, freezing human milk is recommended over refrigeration to preserve its antibacterial functions.
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