Human Milk Powder an Alternative for Better Conservation and Healthier Use in the Banks of Human Milk

Solís Pacheco, J. R.¹, Rodríguez Arreola, A.¹, Gutiérrez Padilla, J. A.^2,3, García Morales, E.², Martínez Preciado, A. H.¹, Castro Albarrán, J.¹, Balcázar López, E.¹, Cavazos Garduño, A.¹ & Aguilar Uscanga, B. R.^1*

¹University Center of Exact Sciences and Engineering, University of Guadalajara, Blvd, Guadalajara, Jalisco,Mexico
²O.P.D. Former Civil Hospital of Guadalajara “Fray Antonio Alcalde”, Division of Pediatrics, Neonatology service / Joint Accommodation, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
³University of Guadalajara. University Center of Health Sciences, Department of Human Reproduction Child Growth and Development, Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico

Dr. Aguilar Uscanga, B. R., University Center of Exact Sciences and Engineering, University of Guadalajara, Blvd, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

Keywords: Human Milk; Spray Drying; Human Milk Banks; Conservation; Pasteurization

Abstract

In Mexico and in the world, there is a need to feed to newborn infants, who for some reason their mothers cannot breastfeed them and due to this situation, Human Milk Banks (HMB) have been implemented using the pasteurization with subsequent freezing, as a method for its conservation. However, these methods disfavor the nutritional and physical-chemical quality of breast milk. Therefore, we have applied the spray drying after the process of asteurization, as an alternative for the preservation of human milk. Spray drying was applied in human milk samples, at temperatures of 150 to 200ºC with a feed flow of 1 to 2mL/min. The milk powder collected was analyzed with respect to the nutritional content (proteins, lipids, sugars) and microbiological quality. The results showed that the pasteurization and spray drying processes do not affect the total content of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates in human milk. The microbiological quality, no growth of any type of microorganisms was observed in the samples after the treatments. However, the content of immunoglobulins decreases between 70 to 80%. We propose, that the process of spray drying of the human milk in combination with pasteurization, can be an important alternative for the Human Milk Banks to conservation of human milk.

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