The Impact of Pasteurized Donor Human Milk on the Growth of Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) is currently the best alternative for preterm (premature) babies as producing a sufficient milk supply in the early weeks can be difficult for new mothers. However, there are conflicting results on the impact of donor human milk (DHM) on the growth of preterm infants. Aims: This systematic review aims to thematically investigate the impact of pasteurization on the nutritional components of DHM and to thematically determine the correlation between PDHM and its effect on the growth and development of preterm infants. Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library on original research articles published from January 2017 to April 2023. We illustrated the screening and selection outcomes in a PRISMA flowchart and assessed the quality of the selected articles using Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool. Results: Four of 130 articles met the inclusion criteria. Correspondingly, two main themes were identified from the selected articles, which include nutrient composition of donor milk and short-term growth outcome. Conclusion: To get rid of any potentially harmful bacteria that could infect a premature newborn, it is reasonable to conclude that DHM requires pasteurization. Thus, there is now less of the milk's natural nutritional components--protein, fat, antioxidants, cytokines, immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and insulin-like growth factor--in the liquid. The short-term growth of preterm infants may be slightly impacted by the pasteurization of DHM, which also lowers some of its nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]