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Molybdenum is an essential trace nutrient in the human diet. Our purpose was to provide a comprehensive analysis of Mo content of various types of powdered infant formulas across Canada and the USA. All infant formulas, available on the day of sampling, were purchased from random supermarkets in Grand Forks, ND, USA; San Diego, CA, USA; Washington, DC, USA; and Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Reference powdered milk, human milk (HM), and formula samples were weighed and acid-digested prior to analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Mo content in all formulas ranged from 15.4 to 80.3 μg/L (mean±SE, 37.7±1.7 μg/L). HM Mo concentration ranged from 1.5 to 9.5 μg/L (5.09±0.81 μg/L). Formulas intended for full-term or for premature infants feeding contained, on average, more Mo than HM. Formulas intended for infants with special needs contained similar mean Mo levels to HM. No significant differences were detected between mean Mo values of formulas of a same type purchased from different brands and/or at different locations. High Mo intake may pose health risks, despite lower bioavailability of Mo from formula compared with HM.

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This study addresses a matter of importance for: healthy infants; sick infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units; infants fed expressed human milk and infants who receive milk from Human Milk Banks. Current storage parameters for freezing of mother's milk are not well established and are often contradictory. Pooled fresh human milk was stored raw, in nitrogen gas and following Holder pasteurization for 6 days at 4 o C and for 6 months at -20 o C and at -80 o C. Contents of linoleic (LA), α−linolenic (ALA), arachidonic (ARA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, riboflavin and total vitamin C were analyzed under these conditions and during these storage times as they are sensitive to oxidation. The results of this study confirm the general appropriateness of freezing human milk at either -20 o C or at -80 o C, for preservation of two vitamins and four fatty acids. These storage recommendations are applicable also for the storage of human milk which underwent Holder pasteurization. Both the exclusion of oxygen and freezing at -80 o C may be redundant for nutrient preservation and in some cases even detrimental. Recommendations for human milk storage while based on bacteriological safety appear to be appropriate for preservation of vitamins C and riboflavin and LA, ALA, DHA and ARA. As vitamin C is highly susceptible to oxidation, its addition to human milk or direct supplementation of the infant is recommended, if the milk had been frozen for longer than 2 weeks or had been pasteurized. We recommend supplementation of the infant with vitamin C at the Adequate Intake (AI) level in these cases.

No abstract