Storage at -80°C preserves the antioxidant capacity of preterm human milk.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
It is essential to establish optimum parameters for maintaining the quality of stored milk until the moment of consumption with minimal deterioration of its properties. The aim of the study was to evaluate total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidation status (TOS) of fresh and freeze-stored samples (at -80°C) of preterm human milk (HM).


METHODS
Samples of colostrum were collected from 98 healthy women within the first 4 days after delivery. The total milk volume collected (6 ml) was divided in two aliquot parts: 3 ml for the fresh analysis which was done immediately after the extraction and 3 ml for storage under freezing conditions at -80°C for three months. The antioxidant status and oxidative stress of the fresh and stored breast milk were assessed via determination of TAC and TOS levels.


RESULTS
The mean gestational age and the birth weight of the infants were 31.26 ± 2.93 weeks and 1620 ± 581.91 g; respectively. There were no significant correlations between maternal age, route of delivery and milk oxidative stress. There was no significant difference between the levels of TAC, TOS and the oxidative stress index in fresh and freeze-stored samples of colostrum in preterm HM (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSION
Freeze storage of preterm HM at -80°C for three months preserves the antioxidant capacity without changing oxidative status of HM, which could be noteworthy for the preterm infant nutrition.
['Akdag|Arzu|A|', 'Sari|Fatma Nur|FN|', 'Dizdar|Evrim Alyamac|EA|', 'Uras|Nurdan|N|', 'Isikoglu|Semra|S|', 'Erel|Ozcan|O|', 'Dilmen|Ugur|U|']
D000328:Adult D000975:Antioxidants D015925:Cryopreservation D005260:Female D005615:Freezing D006801:Humans D007231:Infant, Newborn D008297:Male D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena D008895:Milk, Human D018384:Oxidative Stress D047928:Premature Birth D011309:Preservation, Biological D011446:Prospective Studies D012189:Retrospective Studies D013048:Specimen Handling D013223:Statistics as Topic D055815:Young Adult
human milk total antioxidant capacity preterm infant freeze stored