Donor human milk pasteurization methods and the effect on milk components as they relate to Necrotizing enterocolitis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an intestinal disease that predominantly occurs in preterm infants. While there are no definitive treatment options for NEC, the administration of human milk is protective against the development of NEC in preterm infants. However, human milk composition is highly dynamic, containing numerous bioactive components that can be affected by both maternal and perinatal factors. Furthermore, when maternal milk is unavailable, donor human milk, which goes through a rigorous preparation process including pooling and pasteurization, is used. The different pasteurization methods can have implications for the bioactive components of human milk. In this review, we explore the current literature surrounding the benefits of human milk in the prevention of NEC. We further review the bioactive components and the microbiome of human milk and the many factors that affect the diversity of milk content between human milk samples. Finally, we review the different methods of pasteurization and their effects on the components of human milk.