Human milk based fortifiers improve health outcomes for the smallest premature babies

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/uom-hmb081220.php

 

 

News Release 12-Aug-2020
University of Missouri-Columbia

 

 

More than 380,000 babies are born prematurely in the United States each year, according to the March of Dimes. "Preemies" can be severely underweight babies and struggle to get the nutrients they need from breast milk alone, so neonatal intensive care units provide an additional milk fortifier, either in the form of cow's milk or manufactured from donor breast milk, to keep them healthy.

Now, a new research study from the University of Missouri and University College in London suggests that using a human-based milk fortifier has better health outcomes for severely underweight, premature babies compared to traditional, cow-based milk fortifiers.

•••••