The effects of breast milk storage and freezing procedure on biochemical immunological and antioxidant activity

Human milk is precious for newborn because of especially physiologic, immunologic, anti-infective and nutritional properties. Recently numbers of working mothers are increasing, therefore storage of human milk is necessary at home. Also for premature newborn and sick babies who are not feeding enterally, human milk has to be stored in neonatal units. There are not enough studies which compare the components of premature and term mothers? breast milk and effect of storage. In the present study premature and term mothers? colostrum and mature milk which stored in refrigerator and freezer, compared with fresh milk biochemically (triglycerides, total protein, albumin, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium), immunologically (interleukine-10), and for total antioxidant capacity (TAC).Phosphorus and calcium components of human milk of smoking mothers are lower than non-smoking mothers. Cessarian or normal delivery have not any effect in human milk component. Calcium and magnesium content are less in breast milk from mothers of newborn whose birth weight are lower than 1500g. The gestational age at delivery, different periods of lactation and storage have not any effect on the breast milk levels of interleukine-10 and phosphorus. TAC of mature milk from mothers who delivered prematurely and triglycerides content of mature milk from mothers who delivered at term are high. TAC and triglycerides level of human milk are decreasing under storage conditions. Total protein levels of colostrum from mothers who delivered prematurely or at term are high. Also albumin levels of colostrum from mothers who delivered prematurely are high. Refrigeration significantly decreased total protein, albumin, calcium and magnesium levels of human milk compared with freezing and also fresh milk.Based on the findings of our study; breastfeeding may support premature infants who has longer periods of oxidant stress, need more protein. Total antioxidant capacity and triglycerides levels are decreasing with storage. Thus it is a negative effect on premature nutrition.