Antioxidant capacity of human milk: effect of thermal conditions for the pasteurization.
OBJECTIVE
Pasteurization is the thermal treatment usually applied in milk banks to eliminate the risk of transmission of infectious agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of heat processing upon the antioxidant properties of human milk.


METHODS
Milk samples collected from 31 healthy women were subjected to two different pasteurization techniques: Holder pasteurization (63 degrees C for 30 min) and high pasteurization (75 degrees C for 15 sec) and oxidative stress markers (glutathione, glutathione peroxidase activity, malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity) were determined in comparison to fresh milk.


RESULTS
Malondialdehyde concentration was the same in all samples, while there was a decrease in glutathione concentration and total antioxidant capacity in milk samples subjected to thermal processing versus fresh milk samples. However, the drop in these parameters was seen to be significantly greater when applying Holder pasteurization. Both thermal treatments induced considerable and similar loss of glutathione peroxidase activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Thermal processing of human milk implies a decrease in its antioxidant properties but, when necessary, high pasteurization should be the election method in terms of milk oxidative status.
Silvestre
Dolores
D
Department of Food Science and Technology. CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, Valencia, Spain. dsilves@uch.ceu.es
Miranda
Maria
M
Muriach
Maria
M
Almansa
Inmaculada
I
Jareño
Enrique
E
Romero
Francisco Javier
FJ
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D018384:Oxidative Stress
D000975:Antioxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione