(P10-038-24) Donor Human Milk Is an Insufficient Source of Vitamin C for Preterm Infants

Objectives: Donor Human Milk (DHM) is the standard of care for feeding preterm infants when mother’s own milk (MOM) is unavailable or in short supply. Vitamin C enhances the absorption of non-heme iron and is an important antioxidant. Unlike MOM, DHM must undergo multiple processing steps including pooling pasteurization, or sterilization, and freezing. There is limited evidence on the impact of these procedures on light and heat sensitive nutrients such as vitamin C.

The purpose of this study was to measure the vitamin C concentration in a nationwide sample of DHM.

Methods: DHM was purchased from two for-profit milk banks (NiQ, Prolacta Bioscience) and five not-for-profit milks banks (Human Milk Banking Association of North America) representing seven states. Samples were shipped to Eurofins SF Analytical Laboratories (New Berlin, WI) and analyzed for vitamin C concentration by UHPLC using AOAC method 2012.22.

Results: In total, fifteen DHM samples from seven human milk banks were analyzed and all samples were below the level of detection for vitamin C ( < 2.5 mg/dL).

Conclusions: As vitamin C is not detectable in DHM, concentrations are insufficient for preterm nutrition. Therefore, preterm infants receiving DHM require a supplemental source to provide 100% of their daily requirement of vitamin C (20-55 mg/kg/day for preterm infants).

Funding Sources: Reckitt Mead Johnson