Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2025
Milk Collection in the Rat Using Capillary Tubes and Estimation of Milk Fat Content by Creamatocrit
Published on: December 16, 2015
High protein content in breast milk from South African mothers of preterm infants
Johanna Elizabeth Kemp1, Piet Becker2, Friedeburg Anna Maria Wenhold1,3,4
1Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Aim:
Macronutrient and energy content of human milk are largely assumed for fortification practices. The aim was to explore macronutrient and energy content of transition and mature human milk from South African mothers of preterm infants with a birth weight <1800 g. Secondary objectives compared day to night milk; and explored associations with selected innate factors.
Methods:
In this single-centre, observational study macronutrient and energy content of day, night and mixed samples of transition (first 14 days of life) and mature (from Day 15 of life) human milk were analysed with mid-infrared spectroscopy.
Results:
In total, 116 samples (38 days; 37 night; 41 mixed) from 47 mothers were retained for statistical analysis. Mean true protein, carbohydrate, fat and energy content of mixed samples per 100 mL were 1.5 ± 0.4 g, 7.2 ± 0.7 g, 3.5 ± 0.9 g and 69.4 ± 9.9 kcal, respectively. Mixed transition milk (n = 9) had 1.9 ± 0.3 g protein and 67.4 ± 9.6 kcal and mixed mature milk (n = 32) 1.4 ± 0.4 g protein and 70.0 ± 10.1 kcal, per 100 mL.The protein content of transition (p = 0.004) and mature (p = 0.004) milk were significantly higher than published data. Transition milk: 1.5 g protein, 65 kcal; mature milk: 1.2 g protein, 72 kcal per 100 mL. Night samples had less fat (p = 0.014) and energy (p = 0.033) than day samples. With increasing day of life protein content declined (p = 0.003).
Conclusion:
The protein content of human milk from South African mothers of preterm babies differs from published data and has implications for human milk fortification practises.
