Protein levels and protease activity in milk from mothers of pre-term infants: A prospective longitudinal study of human milk macronutrient composition

Background and aimsThe composition enzymology of human milk changes throughout the lactation period, differ for mothers who give birth prematurely compared to those deliver at full-term. Understanding from very low weight premature infants is great significance, objective this study was evaluate composition, protein profile plasmin activity delivered different gestational ages.MethodsSamples were donated by women (n = 74) in Cork, Ireland, area gave full-term (>37 weeks gestation, FT), pre-term (32–37 weeks, PT) (?32 VPT) infants. FT collected 1, 3, 6 10 post-partum (PP), while PT VPT weekly until due date infant subsequently followed protocol.ResultsGestational age did not significantly affect lactose or fat content total energy milk. However, content, levels some individual proteins, affected both duration lactation, with higher samples 0–7 days 1–2 months, respectively. Plasmin milk, indicating differences proteolytic processing milk.ConclusionCompositional between term greatest terms profile, which showed qualitative quantitative differences, as well difference activity. The ages. Samples protocol. Gestational Compositional