Human Milk Composition and Preservation: Evaluation of High-pressure Processing as a Nonthermal Pasteurization...

Area of Science:

• Human milk composition and preservation
• Bioactive components and immune factors in human milk
• Infant nutrition and development

Background:

• Human milk is a dynamic biologic system providing essential nutrients and immune factors for infant growth.
• Donated breast milk is recommended over infant formula when maternal supply is insufficient.
• Current human milk bank (HMB) practices, particularly Holder pasteurization, diminish the nutritional and bioactive properties of donor milk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review human milk composition and preservation methods.
• To critically discuss the importance and practices of human milk banks (HMB).
• To highlight high-pressure processing (HPP) as a potential nonthermal pasteurization technology for preserving human milk.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on human milk composition, HMB practices, and pasteurization technologies.
• Description of high-pressure processing (HPP) technology.
• Presentation of current studies on HPP effects in human milk.

Main Results:

• Holder pasteurization significantly diminishes bioactive and nutritional components in donor milk.
• High-pressure processing (HPP) is a nonthermal technology that preserves nutritional and bioactive components in food.
• Limited studies suggest HPP's potential for preserving human milk properties.

Conclusions:

• Human milk banks (HMB) face challenges in preserving the full benefits of donor milk due to thermal pasteurization.
• High-pressure processing (HPP) offers a promising nonthermal alternative for pasteurizing human milk.
• Further research is needed to fully evaluate HPP's efficacy and safety for human milk preservation.