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Observational Study
. 2023 Jan;43(1):60-67.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-022-01492-5. Epub 2022 Aug 17.

Human milk pH is associated with fortification, postpartum day, and maternal dietary intake in preterm mother-infant dyads

Evgenia Jen Filatava  1   2 , Colleen E Shelly  2 , Nicolette E Overton  1 , Matt Gregas  2 , Robert Glynn  1 , Katherine E Gregory  3   4
Affiliations
Observational Study

Human milk pH is associated with fortification, postpartum day, and maternal dietary intake in preterm mother-infant dyads

Evgenia Jen Filatava et al. J Perinatol. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: To compare pH of human milk types (mother's own milk (MOM), pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM), fortified MOM, and fortified PDHM) fed to preterm infants.

Study design: This observational study consisted of 63 mother-infant dyads < 34 weeks gestation. Human milk samples (n = 245), along with maternal factors, were collected for pH analysis. pH of MOM was analyzed over the course of lactation accounting for fortification status, postpartum day, and storage conditions.

Results: Mean pH of MOM was slightly acidic at 6.60 ± 0.28, which was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than other milk types. pH of MOM varied by fortification, postpartum day, and maternal vegetable/fiber intake. There was a significant interaction between fortification status and postpartum day; pH of MOM decreased over time, while pH of fortified MOM increased over time.

Conclusion: pH of human milk varied by type. pH of MOM was significantly associated with fortification status, postpartum day, and maternal vegetable/fiber intake.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: KEG is a consultant for Astarte Medical. No other authors declare any competing interests in conducting or reporting this work.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. The pH of Human Milk by Type and Fortification Status.
The mean pH of MOM samples (n=76), was significantly higher (p<0.05 in all comparisons) than the mean pH of PDHM (n=6), fortified MOM (n=142), and fortified PDHM (n=21). Abbreviations: MOM – mother’s own milk, PDHM – pasteurized donor human milk.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. The Effect of PPD on the pH of MOM and Fortified MOM.
Changes in the pH of MOM and fortified MOM over the postpartum period shown as a scatter plot overlaid by a linear prediction with 95% CI margins from a linear mixed model. Based on n=55 mothers (n=76 MOM samples and n=142 fortified MOM samples). Abbreviations: MOM – mother’s own milk, PPD – postpartum day at the time of expression.
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