title: Nutritional and immunological characteristics of fresh and refrigerated stored human milk in Hong Kong: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The nutritional and immunological qualities of human milk from Hong Kong mothers were profiled.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 25 colostrum (≤ 3 days postpartum) and 11 mature (30-45 days postpartum) milk specimens were collected from healthy Chinese women in Hong Kong. Parameters including total protein, whey, casein, triglycerides, lactose, lysozyme, secretory immunoglobulin A, lactoferrin and antibacterial activity of human milk were quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Breast milk of Hong Kong Chinese mothers is nutritionally comparable to that of western mothers for colostrum and mature milk, with protein (25.0±11.3 g/l vs 10.1±1.4 g/l) and lactose (44.2±7.5 g/l vs 66.6±5.5 g/l) for growth and energy supply in infants, respectively. The milk of Hong Kong mothers is however characterized by its exceptionally high levels of sIgA (806.3±792.6 mg/dl and 1545.9±334.6 mg/dl) and low levels of triglycerides (10.8±9.3 mmol/l and 11.1±7.7 mmol/l). The human milk in Hong Kong was also shown to be superior to bovine formula milk, particularly in terms of lower total protein level, the high whey to casein protein ratio, rich immunological active contents, and significant antibacterial activity against 2 common Escherichia coli strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary data also indicated that mature milk could be refrigerated for at least 3 days in order to maintain the major nutritional constituents and antibacterial activity.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: John W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Alice Yuen
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Loke
authors.forename: Mayur-Danny I
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Gohel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D044466:Asian People; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D007785:Lactose / Q000032:analysis; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012034:Refrigeration; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D008894:Milk Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D007785:Lactose