TABLE 2.
Nutrient concentrations in donor human milk obtained from milk banks or commercial entities
| Nutrient (citation) | N | Mean ± SD | Range | Treatment | Donor type | Donors/pool | Analytical method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | |||||||
| Lactose, g/dL (14) | 60 | 7.3 ± 1.6 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | Picric acid method |
| Lactose, g/dL (17) | 6 | 6.1 ± 0.4 | 5.5–6.7 | Holder | n/a | n/a | Mid-IR |
| Lactose, g/dL (19) | 15 | 6.6 ± 0.8 | 5.7–8.6 | Holder | n/a | n/a | Enzymatic |
| Lactose, g/dL (22) | 33 | 5.6 ± 0.7 | — | Raw | n/a | n/a | LC-MS/MS |
| Total carbohydrates, g/dL (16) | 138 | 6.9 ± 0.4 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total carbohydrates, g/dL (16) | 224 | 6.8 ± 0.2 | — | Holder | n/a | Multiple | FT Mid-IR |
| Total carbohydrates, g/dL (16) | 14 | 6.5 ± 0.1 | — | Holder | Colostrum | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Total carbohydrates, g/dL (21) | 179 | 7.4 ± 0.3 | — | Raw | n/a | 1 | Mid-IR |
| Total carbohydrates, g/dL (23) | 16 | 6.8 ± 0.2 | — | Holder | Preterm | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Total carbohydrates, g/dL (23) | 21 | 6.7 ± 0.2 | — | Holder | Term | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Total carbohydrates, g/dL (25) | 3 | — | 7.2–7.3 | Holder | 11% preterm | 2 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total carbohydrates, g/dL (25) | 3 | — | 7.0–7.2 | Vat Holder | n/a | 250 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total carbohydrates, g/dL (25) | 3 | — | 7.0–7.2 | Retort | n/a | 200 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total HMOs, g/L (18) | 31 | — | 4–16* | Holder | n/a | 3 | HPLC |
| Total HMOs, g/L (22) | 33 | 9.3 ± 2.0 | — | Raw | n/a | LC-MS/MS | |
| Total HMOs, g/L (25) | 3 | 12.6 ± 0.8 | 12.0–13.5 | Holder | 11% preterm | 2 | UPLC-MRM/MS |
| Total HMOs, g/L (25) | 3 | 8.2 ± 0.1 | 8.1–8.4 | Vat Holder | n/a | 250 | UPLC-MRM/MS |
| Total HMOs, g/L (25) | 3 | 6.6 ± 0.8 | 5.7–7.2 | Retort | n/a | 200 | UPLC-MRM/MS |
| Energy, kcal/dL (16) | 138 | 64.1 ± 5.9 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | FT Mid-IR + Atwater |
| Energy, kcal/dL (16) | 224 | 63.6 ± 4.5 | — | Holder | n/a | Multiple | FT Mid-IR + Atwater |
| Energy, kcal/dL (16) | 14 | 60.3 ± 3.5 | — | Holder | Colostrum | n/a | FT Mid-IR + Atwater |
| Energy, kcal/dL (17) | 6 | 49.3 ± 4.7 | 44.3–56.1 | Holder | n/a | n/a | Mid-IR + Atwater |
| Energy, kcal/dL (19) | 15 | 63.9 ± 12.2 | 42.6–84.8 | Holder | n/a | n/a | Proximate + Atwater |
| Energy, kcal/dL (21) | 179 | 61.7 ± 6.5 | 46.0–86.0 | Raw | n/a | 1 | Mid-IR |
| Energy, kcal/dL (23) | 21 | 64.9 | — | Holder | Term | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Energy, kcal/dL (23) | 16 | 69.3 | — | Holder | Preterm | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Energy, kcal/dL (25) | 3 | 64.6 ± 8.5 | 58.1–74.0 | Holder | 11% preterm | 2 | FT Mid-IR + Atwater |
| Energy, kcal/dL (25) | 3 | 69.0 ± 1.4 | 67.6–70.3 | Vat Holder | n/a | 250 | FT Mid-IR + Atwater |
| Energy, kcal/dL (25) | 3 | 58.8 ± 5.7 | 52.4–62.9 | Retort | n/a | 200 | FT Mid-IR + Atwater |
| Fat | |||||||
| LCPUFA | |||||||
| α-Linolenic acid, % wt (13) | 48 | 0.9 | 0.6–1.6 | Raw | Transition | 1–3 | GC |
| α-Linolenic acid, nmol/mL (15) | 16 | 8.3 ± 1.2 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | GC |
| Arachidonic acid, % wt (13) | 48 | 0.5 | 0.2–0.8 | Raw | Transition | 1–3 | GC |
| Arachidonic acid, nmol/mL (15) | 16 | 2.7 ± 0.4 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | GC |
| DHA, % wt (13) | 48 | 0.5 | 0.2–0.8 | Raw | Transition | 1–3 | GC |
| DHA, nmol/mL (15) | 16 | 0.7 ± 0.2 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | GC |
| Linoleic acid, % wt (13) | 48 | 9.1 | 6.3–13.4 | Raw | Transition | 1–3 | GC |
| Linoleic acid, nmol/mL (15) | 16 | 118 ± 18 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | GC |
| Monounsaturated, % wt (13) | 48 | 42.2 | 37.1–48.4 | Raw | Transition | 1–3 | GC |
| Saturated, % wt (13) | 48 | 46.4 | 37.7–50.1 | Raw | Transition | 1–3 | GC |
| Total fat, g/dL (14) | 60 | 1.8 ± 1.1 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | Creamatocrit |
| Total fat, g/dL (16) | 138 | 3.5 ± 0.6 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total fat, g/dL (16) | 224 | 3.4 ± 0.5 | — | Holder | n/a | Multiple | FT Mid-IR |
| Total fat, g/dL (16) | 14 | 2.9 ± 0.4 | – | Holder | Colostrum | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Total fat, g/dL (17) | 6 | 2.5 ± 0.3 | 2.2–3.0 | Holder | n/a | n/a | Mid-IR |
| Total fat, g/dL (19) | 15 | 3.5 ± 1.3 | 1.4–6.0 | Holder | n/a | n/a | Creamatocrit |
| Total fat, g/dL (21) | 179 | 3.1 ± 0.8 | 1.1–7.4 | Raw | n/a | 1 | Mid-IR |
| Total fat, g/dL (22) | 33 | 3.5 ± 1.7 | — | Raw | n/a | n/a | NMR |
| Total fat, g/dL (23) | 16 | 3.9 ± 0.6 | — | Holder | Preterm | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Total fat, g/dL (23) | 21 | 3.7 ± 0.4 | — | Holder | Term | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Total fat, g/dL (24) | 30 | 2.8 ± 1.0 | 1.1–4.8 | Holder | Term | n/a | Creamatocrit |
| Total fat, g/dL (25) | 3 | 3.4 ± 0.9 | 2.8–4.6 | Holder | 11% preterm | 2 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total fat, g/dL (25) | 3 | 4.1 ± 0.2 | 3.9–4.6 | Vat Holder | n/a | 250 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total fat, g/dL (25) | 3 | 3.0 ± 0.6 | 2.3–3.3 | Retort | n/a | 200 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total fat, g/dL (26) | 1111 | — | 2.7–5.9 | Holder | n/a | Target | FT Mid-IR |
| Minerals | |||||||
| Calcium, mg/L (14) | 60 | 237 ± 53 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | Methylthymol blue |
| Calcium, mg/L (22) | 33 | 220 ± 49 | — | Raw | n/a | n/a | ICP-OES |
| Copper, mg/L (14) | 60 | 0.5 ± 0.1 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | AA |
| Iron, μg/L (14) | 60 | 660 ± 31 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | AA |
| Iron, μg/L (22) | 33 | 230 ± 64 | — | Raw | n/a | n/a | ICP-OES |
| Phosphorus, mg/L (14) | 60 | 132 ± 32 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | AA |
| Potassium, mg/L (22) | 33 | 390 ± 75 | — | Raw | n/a | n/a | ICP-OES |
| Sodium, mg/L (22) | 33 | 83 ± 31 | — | Raw | n/a | n/a | ICP-OES |
| Zinc, mg/L (14) | 60 | 1.7 ± 1.0 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | AA |
| Zinc, mg/L (22) | 33 | 1.2 ± 0.7 | — | Raw | n/a | n/a | ICP-OES |
| Protein | |||||||
| Amino acids, μmol/L | |||||||
| Alanine (15) | 16 | 224.6 ± 45.2 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Arginine (15) | 16 | 12.3 ± 4.2 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Aspartate (15) | 16 | 59.1 ± 16.8 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Glutamate (15) | 16 | 1415 ± 269 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Glycine (15) | 16 | 95.5 ± 23.2 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Histidine (15) | 16 | 22.7 ± 5.9 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Isoleucine (15) | 16 | 7.4 ± 2.4 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Leucine (15) | 16 | 28.7 ± 7.1 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Lysine (15) | 16 | 17.5 ± 7.0 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Methionine (15) | 16 | 4.4 ± 1.6 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Phenylalanine (15) | 16 | 13.5 ± 2.5 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Proline (15) | 16 | 26.2 ± 6.6 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Serine (15) | 16 | 95.4 ± 27.7 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Taurine (15) | 16 | 248.1 ± 54.7 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Threonine (15) | 16 | 71.2 ± 30.2 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Tyrosine (15) | 16 | 8.4 ± 3.1 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Valine (15) | 16 | 50.6 ± 9.9 | — | Holder | Term/preterm | 3–4 | Ion exchange HPLC |
| Crude protein, g/dL (21) | 179 | 0.8 ± 0.2 | 0.4–1.5 | Raw | n/a | 1 | Mid-IR |
| Total protein, g/dL (14) | 60 | 1.2 ± 0.3 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | Lowry |
| Total protein, g/dL (15) | 16 | 0.9 | — | Holder | n/a | 3–4 | MilkOScope |
| Total protein, g/dL (16) | 138 | 1.3 ± 0.4 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total protein, g/dL (16) | 224 | 1.5 ± 0.2 | — | Holder | n/a | Multiple | FT Mid-IR |
| Total protein, g/dL (16) | 14 | 2.0 ± 0.1 | — | Holder | Colostrum | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Total protein, g/dL (17) | 6 | 1.0 ± 0.1 | 0.8–1.1 | Holder | n/a | n/a | Mid-IR |
| Total protein, g/dL (19) | 15 | 1.3 ± 0.2 | 1.0–1.6 | Holder | n/a | n/a | Bradford |
| Total protein, g/dL (22) | 33 | 1.5 ± 0.2 | — | Raw | n/a | n/a | Bicinchoninic acid |
| Total protein, g/dL (23) | 16 | 1.4 ± 0.2 | — | Holder | Preterm | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Total protein, g/dL (23) | 21 | 1.1 ± 0.1 | — | Holder | Term | n/a | FT Mid-IR |
| Total protein, g/dL (24) | 30 | 3.2 ± 0.4 | — | Holder | Term | n/a | Bradford |
| Total protein, g/dL (25) | 3 | 1.0 ± 0.1 | 0.9–1.1 | Holder | 11% preterm | 2 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total protein, g/dL (25) | 3 | 0.8 ± 0.0 | 0.8–0.8 | Vat Holder | n/a | 250 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total protein, g/dL (25) | 3 | 0.8 ± 0.0 | 0.7–0.8 | Retort | n/a | 200 | FT Mid-IR |
| Total protein, g/dL (26) | 1111 | — | 0.8–2.2 | Holder | n/a | Target | FT Mid-R |
| True protein, g/dL (21) | 179 | 0.7 ± 0.2 | 0.3–1.2 | Raw | n/a | 1 | Mid-IR |
| Vitamins | |||||||
| Free choline, μmol/L (24) | 30 | 170 ± 86 | 16–297 | Holder | Term | n/a | LC-MS/MS |
| GPC, μmol/L (24) | 30 | 383 ± 195 | 61–772 | Holder | Term | n/a | LC-MS/MS |
| PhosC, μmol/L (24) | 30 | 722 ± 255 | 51–1223 | Holder | Term | n/a | LC-MS/MS |
| WS choline, μmol/L (24) | 30 | 1275 ± 414 | 128–1934 | Holder | Term | n/a | LC-MS/MS |
| Retinol, μg/L (14) | 60 | 432 ± 266 | — | Holder | n/a | 1 | HPLC |
| Retinol, μg/L (20) | 1 | 185.8† | — | Holder | n/a | n/a | HPLC |
| α-tocopherol, μg/L (20) | 1 | 1381.9† | — | Holder | n/a | n/a | HPLC |
| β-carotene, μg/L (20) | 1 | 13.7† | — | Holder | n/a | n/a | HPLC |
*
Values interpreted from graphs.
†
N = 1 observation reported; data represent actual amounts, not measurements of central tendency and dispersion.
AA, atomic absorption spectrometry; FT, Fourier transformed; GPC, glycerophosphocholine; HMO, human milk oligosaccharide; ICP-OES, inductive coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy; IR, infrared; LCPUFA, long chain PUFA; n/a, not available; MRM, multiple reaction monitoring; MS, mass spectroscopy; PhosC, phosphocholine; Target, selection of donors for pool based on macronutrient analysis of each donor; Transition, milk from 1–8 wk postpartum; UPLC, ultra-performance LC; WS, water-soluble.