The Effect of Advanced Maternal Age upon Human Milk Fat Content

Abstract Background: Little is known about the effect of maternal age on human milk (HM) composition. This study was designed to study fat content, estimated by creamatocrit (CMT), in HM collected in the first 2 weeks of life in older (≥35 years) compared with younger (<35 years) mothers. Study Design and Methods: Ninety lactating mothers (48 older, 42 younger) of newborns were recruited within the first 3 days of delivery. CMTs were measured at 72 hours, 7 days, and 14 days after delivery for HM in a capillary tube after centrifugation at 5,366 g for 5 minutes. Results: The groups did not differ in terms of maternal height and diet, infant birth weight, gestational age (GA), or pregnancy weight gain. They differed significantly in terms of maternal age and parity. Mean colostrum CMT was significantly higher in the group of older mothers. Colostrum CMT correlated positively with maternal age (R2=0.11, p=0.006) and inversely with GA (R2=0.1, p=0.03) but did not relate with either maternal weight or body ma...