Effect of Donated Premature Milk in the Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Abstract

Introduction: Breastfeeding is one of the strategies that has been shown to be effective in preventing severe forms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). When mother’s own milk (MOM) is not available, pasteurized donor milk (DM) is the best alternative. However, the evidence is inconclusive on the difference in the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) between patients fed MOM and those fed with DM. As standard DM is usually mature pooled milk donated by mothers who have delivered their babies at term, the potential benefits of preterm milk may be lost. Materials and Methods: An observational, retrospective, single-center study was conducted in the neonatology department of a high-complexity hospital. The study included newborns 50% of the milk) or mainly PDM (>50% of the milk). Two groups were established: those who received >50% MOM and those who received >50% PDM. They were also classified according to the diagnosis of DBP: one group included no BPD or grade 1 BPD (noBPD/1), while the other included grade 2 or 3 BPD (BPD 2–3). The objectives of this study were, firstly, to evaluate the incidence of BPD 2–3 among patients who predominantly received PDM versus MOM. Secondly, to analyze differences in the type of human milk received and its nutritional components, as well as to study the growth in patients with or without BPD. Results: One hundred ninety-nine patients were included in the study. A comparison of noBPD/1 versus BPD 2–3 groups between those receiving mainly MOM versus PDM showed no significant differences (19% vs. 20%, p 0.95). PDM colostrum in BPD 2–3 compared to noBPD/1 was higher in protein content (2.24 g/100 mL (SD 0.37) vs. 2.02 g/100 mL (SD 0.29) p p 0.03). Conclusions: The use of mainly MOM or PDM demonstrates a similar incidence of noBPD/1 or BPD 2–3. Non-pooled and matched by gestational age and time of lactation preterm donor milk can probably be an alternative when mother’s own milk is not available, with a similar protective effect in the prevention of severe BPD.

Keywords

• bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• mother’s own milk
• pasteurized donor milk