Wall St. Journal article - "Freezing Cuts Nutrients of BM"

[missmelis01]

I was a little disappointed to read about this study when I opened my WSJ this morning, especially because I am a working mom!

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109831697669051401,00.html?mod=pj%5Fhealth%5F hs%5Fcoll%5Fleft

I thought some of you would be interested in reading/commenting on the article.

Thanks!

[psophia17]

WSJ is only available online to subscribers :-(

-Petra

DS - Nathan, 12/29/03

[stillplayswithbarbies]

I can't read the article because I don't subscribe to WSJ, but this is nothing new or unknown. (assuming it says the same thing that all the breastfeeding books and online sources say)

This is one reason that I made sure to feed mostly fresh breastmilk each day and just one bottle from the freezer stash to keep it rotated. Even letting the pumped milk sit in the refrigerator is not as good as feeding fresh from the tap, but it's the best I choose to do. :)

...Karen
DS Jake Feb 91, DD Logan Mar 03
http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/superpower.gif http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/borntobebreastfed2.gif

[missmelis01]

Sorry! Didn't realize the article wasn't available....

Here it is in its entirety:

Freezing Cuts Nutrients
Of Breast Milk

By JENNIFER CORBETT DOOREN
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
October 21, 2004; Page D4

Antioxidant levels in breast milk substantially drop after 48 hours in the refrigerator and upon freezing, researchers at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center found.

Based on their small study, they concluded that to preserve its antioxidant content, expressed breast milk should be stored no longer than 48 hours at refrigerator temperature and that it shouldn't be frozen.

The study compared antioxidant levels in the breast milk of 16 mothers -- eight with babies born at full term and eight with premature infants -- with infant formula.

They tested milk and five brands of formula when it was fresh and they tested refrigerated and frozen milk and formula after 48 hours and for seven days.

Overall they found that fresh, human milk had the highest levels of antioxidants, which include vitamins, minerals and enzymes, compared with formula, whether it came from a mother who had a premature baby or a baby born at full term. But they found antioxidant levels dropped in human milk when stored for more than 48 hours and remained stable in formula.

Many new mothers who work outside the home regularly express breast milk for feeding the baby when they aren't around.

However, one of the study's authors, Dr. Thomas Hegyi, a professor in Robert Wood Johnson's pediatrics department in New Brunswick, N.J., said more studies need to be done to see whether the reduced antioxidant levels in stored milk really matter for babies.

Results of the study are to be published today in the British Medical Journal's Archives of Disease in Childhood's Fetal Neonatal Edition.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says breast milk is best used within 24 hours, although its guidelines for breast-feeding women say breast milk can be frozen safely for one month.

For now, Dr. Hegyi and other medical professionals say it still is all right for women to freeze breast milk for a certain time period.

Dr. Richard Schanler, the chief of neonatology at North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., said he believes milk can be frozen safely for as many as three months and said it is impractical for working mothers and women with premature babies not to freeze milk.

"Obviously the best milk is fresh milk, but you still have a lot of benefits of frozen milk," said Dr. Schanler, who hadn't seen the study.

He said that various components of breast milk can degrade with storage but that studies of the major components of milk, such as vitamins, have shown they remain relatively stable over time. He concurred with the recommendation to use refrigerated milk within 48 hours.

Dr. Schanler said expressing and freezing milk is critical for women with premature babies if they want to maintain their milk supply once babies are discharged from the hospital. Many hospitalized premature babies are fed through a tube.

HOW TO STORE EXPRESSED MILK



• Use sealed and chilled milk within 24 hours if possible. Discard all milk that has been refrigerated more than 72 hours.

• Freeze milk that won't be used within 24 hours. Frozen milk is good for at least 1 month in a typical home freezer and for 3 to 6 months if kept in a sub-zero freezer. Store it at the back of the freezer and never in the door section.

• Milk can be thawed in the refrigerator or by being placed in a warm bowl of water.

• Never use the microwave to thaw or heat milk as it can destroy important proteins and vitamins.

• Milk thawed in the refrigerator must be used within 24 hours and should never be refrozen.

• To store milk use clean containers, preferably screw-cap bottles, hard plastic cups with tight caps or special heavy nursery bags. Do not use ordinary plastic storage bags or formula bottle bags for storing expressed milk.


Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

[cara1]

Don't you all think this needs to be taken with a grain of salt? For example, "However, one of the study's authors, Dr. Thomas Hegyi, a professor in Robert Wood Johnson's pediatrics department in New Brunswick, N.J., said more studies need to be done to see whether the reduced antioxidant levels in stored milk really matter for babies." It sounds like the ONLY thing they say is decreased with freezing is antioxidants. Big deal as far as I'm concerned. Doesn't say anything about protein, fat, carbos, antibodies, or other vitamins. Am I missing something?

[sntm]

Big discussion on this on Lactnet!!!

Here are two other articles that are better, IMO. The Toronto article actually gives the antioxident levels.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,136109,00.html
http://www.canada.com/health/story.html?id=5d1cff05-07b0-45e0-8103-31c2f8307601

Basically, the more fresh breastmilk the better, but frozen breastmilk still has more antioxident capabilities than formula. But, I'm sure this will lead to another all-new-with-more-antioxidents formula ;)

The actual journal in which this was published still wasn't available online last time I checked but when it is, I'll read the whole thing and comment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 16 months and counting

[missmelis01]

Yes, I was thinking the formula companies would take this study and run with it.

Thanks for the links to the other articles.

[calebsmama03]

As my lactation teacher is fond of saying - Of COURSE formula remains "stable" regardless of whether fresh or frozen - it is a DEAD liquid that is full of chemical preservatives! Bottom line is that breastmilk IS BEST regardless of the antioxidant levels - there are so many other nutrients in BM that formula comanies will never be able to simulate. And if they do, you'd be scared to know how they get them!!

OT, but Shannon, are you the Shannon (MD) who chimed in on the internship issue?? If so, nice to "see" you there too, and THANKS for the support on that! It is truly frustrating :(
Lynne
Mommy to Caleb 3/3/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif[/img][/url]
Oh my!! #2 5/05

[stillplayswithbarbies]

I wouldn't be surprised if the formula companies funded this study or in some way influenced it. They are losing market share as more women breastfeed. If they can go after the moms who work outside the home and convince them that formula is better than breastmilk that has been frozen, they have a whole new market to tap.

Fortunately, breastmilk is much more than just the antioxidants.

...Karen
DS Jake Feb 91, DD Logan Mar 03
http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/superpower.gif http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/borntobebreastfed2.gif

[sntm]

Yes -- nice to see you here! I love making connections like that.

Here's another link for everyone with a nice graph about the antioxidents:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8122-1322249,00.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 16 months and counting