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ELECTRONIC ARTICLE: Darlene A. Calhoun, Mathilde Lunøe, Yan Du, and Robert D. Christensen Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Is Present in Human Milk and Its Receptor Is Present in Human Fetal Intestine Pediatrics 2000; 105: e7 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Human Milk Availability

George L Sharpe   (12 March 2000)

Response to Human Milk Availability Through Milk Banks

Darlene A Calhoun   (13 March 2000)

Human Milk Availability 12 March 2000
George L Sharpe, Neonatologist Childrens Hospital of Austin (Texas) Send letter to journal: Re: Human Milk Availability glsharpe{at}seton.org George L Sharpe	In their article titled "Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating factor is present in human Milk and its receptor is present in human fetal intestine", Dr. Calhoun and her associates point out the importance to improve anti-infection properties in human formulas where there is no human milk available. Their research and others support that human milk availability is an important issue to aid neonates, especially prematures to resist and combat infections. Fortunately, there exist regional human milk banks in Canada and the United States that can supply pasteurized human milk to neonatal units. In circumstances where the neonate's mother is unable to begin or to continue the supply of her milk for her infant, our area hospitals use pasteurized pooled donor breast milk. We have seen definite improvements in the neonatal infection rates, especially for necrotizing enterocolitis. Human Milk Banks in North America can be found in Vancouver B.C. Canada, San Jose CA, Denver CO, Raleigh NC, Washington D.C, Wilmington DE, Worcester MA and Austin TX. All are members of The Human Milk Banking Association of North America that provides uniform guidelines for quality and safety. The Regional Milk Banks are able to ship quantities of human milk to other states and the banks support each other in handling requests. Perhaps more widespread use of human milk will make it unnecessary to find ways to improve the anti-infection properties of formulas.
Response to Human Milk Availability Through Milk Banks 13 March 2000
Darlene A Calhoun, Neonatologist University of Florida Send letter to journal: Re: Response to Human Milk Availability Through Milk Banks calhoda{at}peds.ufl.edu Darlene A Calhoun	Dr. Sharpe's letter provides important information relative to the availability of human milk through Human Milk Banks of North America. Our only concern is that some of the growth factors, since they are proteins, do not withstand the rigorous conditions of pasterization. In our evaluation of G-CSF in human milk using standard pasterization conditions (56 degrees C and 62.5 degrees C for 30 min), we found that the measurable concentrations of G-CSF was less than 5% of the original concentration. Therefore, it is important to consider that even though the mother may choose to use human milk that has been banked, not all of the growth factors may be preserved or functional. Darlene A. Calhoun, D.O. Assistant Professor

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