The Impact of the Block Freeze Concentration Process on Human Milk Properties Intended for Feeding Newborns

Human milk is the ideal nutritional support for premature neonates. Considering the need for aggregating nutritional value to human milk provided to such vulnerable group of infants, human milk was concentrated by the block freeze concentration technique. The effects of freeze concentration on the physicochemical properties, the efficiency of the process, color parameters, and the density and dynamic viscosity of human milk were assessed. The freeze concentration technology was used to successfully concentrate human milk to a factor equal to 180.48% and 72% of total solid retention in the second stage of freeze concentration. The values observed in the concentrates for the biochemical properties showed that the fraction of concentrated fluid human milk of the second stage (C2) presented elevated amounts of carbohydrates, protein and energy. The elevated caloric value observed in the ice fraction of the first stage (I1) refers to the retention of lipids in it. When added to human milk, C2 and I1 may satisfy the special requisites of nutrients and energy to guarantee the growth and development of preterm neonates.