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Microbiota composition of human milk based on storage and processing methods in Korea
Changin Oh1, Insoo Kang2, Ben Kang3
1Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
Background/Objectives:
The microbiota present in human milk (HM) plays a crucial role in infant health and development. Maintaining it during storage and thawing is vital for preserving its beneficial properties; however, the effects of storage period, temperature, and thawing conditions on HM are not well understood.
Subjects/Methods:
HM samples from lactating mothers were collected and stored under different temperature conditions (room temperature [RT], refrigeration, and -20°C) for different durations (1 week and 4 weeks), and thawed using different methods (RT, bottle warmer, and microwave), followed by analysis of their microbiota.
Results:
Storing HM samples at RT for a week and at -20°C for four weeks resulted in a significant reduction in microbiota diversity, whereas the other treatments did not lead to a significant change in beta diversity. In the microbiota distance analysis, HM samples stored at -20°C for a week showed the highest similarity to the initial microbiota compared to those after one week of storage at RT or in a refrigerator. Microwave thawing after 1 week of freezing resulted in the greatest alteration in the initial microbiota composition, whereas thawing at RT or with a bottle warmer showed comparable microbial profiles.
Conclusion:
The most suitable method for storing and thawing HM while preserving the microbiota is to store it at -20°C for up to one week and thaw it using a bottle warmer.
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