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Acid/base balance in fortified donor human milk: An experimental study
Daphne Pineda1, Rhyan Bingham1, Amy Gates1
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, USA.
JPEN. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
|June 23, 2023
Summary
Fortifying human milk with different additives alters its pH and acidity. The specific changes vary depending on the fortifier type and caloric density, impacting acid-base balance.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Biochemistry
- Food Science
Background:
- Human milk fortification is crucial for preterm infants.
- Understanding the impact of fortifiers on human milk's acid-base balance is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the pH and total acidity of human milk.
- To assess the effects of human milk fortifiers (HMFs), powder infant formulas, and protein additives on human milk's acid-base properties.
Main Methods:
- Fortified human milk samples were prepared by adding commercial HMFs and powder infant formulas.
- pH measurements were taken at various caloric densities (22–30 kcal/ounce).
- Phenolphthalein acidity was determined using sodium hydroxide titration.
Main Results:
- Unfortified human milk pH increased slightly within the first hour.
- pH changes in fortified milk varied significantly between HMFs and formulas, often correlating with caloric density.
- Acidity levels showed significant differences for some HMFs at higher caloric densities, while formulas had minimal impact on acidity.
Conclusions:
- Acid-base balance in fortified human milk is variable.
- The choice of fortifying agent can influence the pH and acidity of human milk.
- Consideration of these changes is important when selecting human milk fortifiers.
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