Effects of human milk homogenization on fat absorption in very low birth weight infants

We tested the effects of ultrasonic homogenization of human milk on fat abs orption in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The study was conducted on 18 VLBW infants divided into two groups: 8 infants whose mothers were able to produce a milk volume sufficient to satisfy their requirements received this milk without pasteurization, and the remaining 10 received their, own mother's milk complemented with bank milk. Each group was submitted to two consecutive fat balances in which they received at random homogenized or n on-homogenized milk. Gestational age, birth weight and amount of fat ingest ed did not differ between groups. Fecal fat excretion was significantly low er in the group fed homogenized and non-pasteurized own mother's milk. The groups fed non-pasteurized milk absorbed fat at percentages close to those of the group that received pasteurized and homogenized human milk. The grou p that received pasteurized and non-homogenized human milk presented the lo west fat absorption. We conclude that the ultrasound homogenization process improved the absorpt ion of human milk fat, suggesting that Pasteurized human milk utilized as p art of an infant feeding regime should be pre homogenized. (C) 1999 Elsevie r Science Inc.