A systematic review and meta-analysis of the nutrient content of preterm and term breast milk

BMC Pediatrics

Table 7 The milk maturity effect: Comparison of colostrum versus mature milk

	Energy (measured)		Protein (true protein)		Fat		Lactose
	Preterm	Term	Preterm	Term	Preterm	Term	Preterm	Term
Colostrum	49	54	2.7	2.0	2.2	1.8	5.1	5.6
Mature milk	73	63	1.1	1.0	3.3	3.4	6.2	6.5
Difference	49%	16%	−61%	−52%	50%	93%	21%	16%
p-value	<0.00001*	<0.00001*	<0.00001*	<0.00001*	<0.00001*	<0.00001*	<0.00001*	<0.00001*
	Calcium		Phosphate
	Preterm	Term	Preterm	Term
Colostrum	25	26	9.5	11
Mature milk	29	26	12.8	16
Difference	13%	−2%	35%	41%
p-value	0.003	0.62	0.002	0.001

*met our approximate Bonferroni adjusted p-value criteria for statistical significance was < 0.001.
Colostrum was milk collected in the first 3 days, mature milk was collected between 5 to 12 weeks. The difference values less than 100% reflect lower values for mature milk, differences greater than 100% reflect higher values for colostrum compared to mature milk.

ISSN: 1471-2431