Lipolytic Activity During Storage of Human Milk: Accumulation of Free Fatty Acids1

Abstract

Lipolysis was quantitated during storage of fluid and freezedried human whole and skim milks. Fatty acid accumulation was faster in whole fluid milk stored for 1 week at 4°C than in frozen (−20°C) samples stored for 180 d. The rapid accumulation of fatty acids during 24 h of storage at 4°C was enhanced in previously frozen milk samples. While freeze-dried whole milk showed no lipolysis when stored at −20°C, accumulation of free fatty acids was rapid in samples stored at room temperature. Fluid and freeze-dried skim milk samples exhibited no appreciable lipolysis.