Alpha and gamma tocopherols in pooled mature human milk after storage

The alpha- and gamma-tocopherols in pooled stored human milk were determined. Storage times and temperatures were t = 0 (up to 2 h after start of pool collection); t = 8 h (25 degrees, 4 degrees C); t = 24 h (25 degrees, 4 degrees, -11 degrees C); and t = 72 h, 1, 4, 8, and 16 weeks (-11 degrees, -20 degrees, -70 degrees C). Lipids were extracted with a modified Folch procedure and tocopherols were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography. There were no significant differences in alpha- or gamma-tocopherol at any time or temperature. Therefore, mothers, milk bank operators, and researchers can be assured of the stability of tocopherol in human milk stored under the conditions of this study.