Protein, lactose and fat concentration of breast milk of mothers of term and premature neonates

The protein, lactose and fat concentrations in the milk of seven mothers giving birth at term and six mothers giving birth prematurely were determined. Samples were obtained during the first 31 days of lactation. The protein, lactose and fat concentrations of preterm milk were found to be similar to those of fullterm milk over this period. For both term and preterm groups, protein concentration decreased with increasing age, while lactose concentration increased. Fat concentration did not show a consistent pattern of change in the preterm group, but tended to increase with advancing age in the term group.