Donor human milk for preterm infants: Current evidence and research directions

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Sertac Arslanoglu
  • Willemijn Corpeleijn
  • Guido Moro
  • Christian Braegger
  • Cristina Campoy
  • Virginie Colomb
  • Tamas Decsi
  • Magnus Domellöf
  • Mary Fewtrell
  • Iva Hojsak
  • Walter Mihatsch
  • Mølgaard, Christian
  • Raanan Shamir
  • Dominique Turck
  • Johannes van Goudoever
  • ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition
The Committee on Nutrition of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition aims to document the existing evidence of the benefits and common concerns deriving from the use of donor human milk (DHM) in preterm infants. The comment also outlines gaps in knowledge and gives recommendations for practice and suggestions for future research directions. Protection against necrotizing enterocolitis is the major clinical benefit deriving from the use of DHM when compared with formula. Limited data also suggest unfortified DHM to be associated with improved feeding tolerance and with reduced cardiovascular risk factors during adolescence. Presence of a human milk bank (HMB) does not decrease breast-feeding rates at discharge, but decreases the use of formula during the first weeks of life. This commentary emphasizes that fresh own mother's milk (OMM) is the first choice in preterm infant feeding and strong efforts should be made to promote lactation. When OMM is not available, DHM is the recommended alternative. When neither OMM nor DHM is available, preterm formula should be used. DHM should be provided from an established HMB, which follows specific safety guidelines. Storage and processing of human milk reduces some biological components, which may diminish its health benefits. From a nutritional point of view, DHM, like HM, does not meet the requirements of preterm infants, necessitating a specific fortification regimen to optimize growth. Future research should focus on the improvement of milk processing in HMB, particularly of heat treatment; on the optimization of HM fortification; and on further evaluation of the potential clinical benefits of processed and fortified DHM.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Volume57
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)535-542
Number of pages8
ISSN0277-2116
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

ID: 53996282