Rapid high-temperature treatment of human milk

Randall M. Goldblum, Charles W. Dill, Thomas B. Albrecht, Edna S. Alford, Cutberto Garza, Armond S. Goldman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

94 Scopus citations

Abstract

Increasing interest in feeding human milk to low-birth-weight infants raises concern about microbial contamination of milk that is pooled or stored. We examined the effect of rapid high-temperature treatment on bacteria and viruses and on the nutritional and immunologic quality of pooled human milk. Growth of endogenous bacteria and infectivity of added cytomegalovirus were undetectable after heating at 72°C for 15 and 5 seconds, respectively. Folic acid and vitamins B1, B2, B6, and C were not affected, whereas bile salt-stimulated lipase was inactivated by these conditions. The concentration of lactoferrin and secretory IgA, and SIgA antibody activity were not changed by heating at 72°C. Lysozyme concentration and enzymatic activity were increased significantly by heat treatment, suggesting that this component may be largely sequestered in milk. Our findings suggest that rapid high-temperature treatment can reduce microbial contamination without destrying the unique nutritional and immunologic qualities of human milk.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)380-385
Number of pages6
JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics
Volume104
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1984
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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