Immunoglobulin A and Protein Content of Low-Fat Human Milk Prepared for the Treatment of Chylothorax.

Background: Several case studies report successful recovery from chylothorax while infants were fed low-fat human milk. The reported growth rates were inadequate despite milk supplementation with added medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). The objective was to determine the effect that various human milk fat separating methods, refrigerated centrifuge, room temperature centrifuge, and refrigeration have on the loss of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and protein in the preparation of low-fat human milk.

Evaluation of fat separation and removal methods to prepare low-fat breast milk for fat-intolerant neonates with chylothorax.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare 2 methods (syringe and spoon methods) of removing the fat from the low-fat milk portion and compare 3 methods (refrigerated centrifuge, nonrefrigerated centrifuge, and refrigeration method) of separating breast milk into the fat and low-fat milk components.

Methods: Human milk was divided into 24 aliquots using the 3 separating methods, and 2 methods (syringe, spoon) were compared to extract the low-fat milk. Thirty-one human milk samples were separated into fatty and low-fat milk layers using 3 methods: 24-hour refrigerator storage (2°C), centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes at room temperature, and spun in the refrigerated-centrifuge at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes at 2°C.