Page 87 - Spring2008

study supports previous work that indicates that using untreated own mother’s milk. This occurred in spite of the fact that
the low phosphorus content of breast milk is there was little difference, especially in terms of energy content, between
probably responsible for biochemical evidence of the two types of breast milk. This was due to the fact that the pooled
inadequate bone mineralization and that despite pasteurized milk was also largely obtained from mothers of premature
vitamin D supplementation, 25-OHD values do babies. It is suggested from our data that slower weight gain in the group
not rise adequately. Thirty-six infants were re- receiving the pooled pasteurized milk could be due to the pasteurization,
examined between 4 and 11 months after birth. which probably destroys heat-labile milk lipase” (Stein H et al. Pooled

The 25-OHD values had risen significantly in all pasteurized breast milk and untreated own mother’s milk in the feeding
infants except one who had vitamin D defi ciency of very low birth weight babies: a randomized controlled trial. J Pediatr
rickets” (Pettifor JM et al. Mineral homeostasis Gastroenterol Nutr. 1986 Mar-Apr;5(2):242-7). Note that the researchers
in very low birth weight infants fed either own attribute the lower weight gain from pasteurized milk to the destruction
mother’s milk or pooled pasteurized preterm of lipase.
milk. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1986 Mar-
Apr;5(2):248-53). DESTRUCTION OF ENZYMES
Another study carried out in the same year From a study published in 1977 we learn: “Human milk was subjected
came to the same conclusion (emphasis mine): to heat treatments of graded severity and examined for its content of immu-
“It has been shown that milk derived from moth- noglobulins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, vitamin B -and folate-binder proteins,
12
ers with term infants is not optimal for premature and lactoperoxidase. Holder pasteurization (62.5 degrees C 30 minutes)
babies. There is also concern about the effect reduced the IgA titer by 20 percent, and destroyed the small content of IgM
of heat sterilizing breast milk. At Baragwanath and most of the lactoferrin. Lysozyme was stable to this treatment, but with
Hospital, the majority of mothers remain with an increase in temperature there was progressive destruction, to near 100
and care for their premature babies. Over many percent at 100 degrees C. The same was broadly true of the capacity of
years, pooled pasteurized breast milk has been milk to bind folic acid and protect it against bacterial uptake; with vitamin
fed to these babies before direct breast feeding is B the binder was more labile at 75 degrees C than at 100degrees C. The
12
instituted. A study was done to compare feeding milk contained no detectable lactoperoxidase” (Ford JE et al. Infl uence of
pooled pasteurized breast milk and untreated own the heat treatment of human milk on some of its protective constituents. J
mother’s milk to very low birth weight babies. Pediatr. 1977 Jan;90(1):29-35).
There was a significantly more rapid weight gain

both in terms of regaining birth weight and, from OBLIGATION TO REMOVE
this point, to reaching a weight of 1,800 g when These studies apply to the milk of all species, not just human milk.

POPULAR IN EUROPE: RAW MILK BY VENDING MACHINE!

While US health officials continue their knee-jerk opposition to raw milk, European sales of fresh raw milk by vend-
ing machine are growing by leaps and bounds. Several versions are pictured below. The sign on the truck says Latte fresco
crudo di giornata (Fresh raw milk daily). The raw milk dispenser is in the lower right hand corner of the truck body, next to
the cab. Note the model pictured in the lower right—it’s painted with a cow and green pasture and placed next to a soft
drink vending machine! The model shown in the middle is used in schools! We need these vending machines here—even
if only on farms. They completely relieve the farmer of having to bottle his milk—the consumer brings the containers and
fills them with a punch of a button. For more information (in Italian) visit http://www.prometea.it/?service=latteria.

SPRING 2008 Wise Traditions 87