Powdered human milk fortifier

Abstract

The invention relates to a powdered human milk fortifier comprising a protein component typically present in an amount of from about 24 wt/wt % to about 55 wt/wt % of the fortifier powder, and a fat component typically present in an amount of from about 1 wt/wt % to about 30 wt/wt % of the fortifier powder. Preferably, the powdered human milk fortifier is provided in a unit dose container which holds from about 0.5 gm to about 10 gm of powder. The instant invention also relates to a method of providing nutrition to preterm infants by adding a fortifier powder to human milk and administering the fortified human milk to a premature infant. The invention further provides a method of promoting growth of a premature infant by administering fortified human milk to a premature infant.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A powdered human milk fortifier comprising: 
 a. a protein component present in a quantity of from about 25 wt/wt % to about 42 wt/wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier,    b. a fat component present in a quantity of from about 5 wt/wt % to about 30 wt/wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier wherein said fat component further comprises an emulsifier present in a quantity of from about 1.5 wt/wt % to about 5.0 wt/wt % of said fat component, and    c. at least one additional nutrient selected from the group consisting of Vitamin A, Vitamin B 1 , Vitamin B 2 , Vitamin B 6 , Vitamin B 12 , Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, m-inositol, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, sodium, potassium, chloride, iron, selenium, chromium, molybdenum, carnitine and taurine, and wherein said calcium source is insoluble.    
     
     
         2 . A method of providing supplemental nutrients to preterm infants comprising adding the powdered human milk fortifier according to  claim 1  to human milk and administering a fortified human milk to a premature infant.  
     
     
         3 . A method for promoting growth of a premature infant comprising administering fortified human milk to a premature infant, said fortified human milk further comprises: 
 a. human milk, and    b. the powdered human milk fortifier according to  claim 1 .    
     
     
         4 . A unit dose of powdered human milk fortifier comprising: 
 a. a container, and    b. the powdered human milk fortifier according to  claim 1  present in an amount of from about 0.8 gm to about 5.0 gm per unit dose.    
     
     
         5 . A method for enhancing the emulsion stability of human milk comprising adding an emulsifier to said human milk wherein said emulsifier is present in a quantity of from about 0.36 wt/vol % to about 3.6 wt/vol % of the human milk.  
     
     
         6 . A method for preventing the denaturation of protein in fortified human milk comprising the incorporation of an insoluble calcium source.  
     
     
         7 . A powdered human milk fortifier comprising: 
 a) a protein component present in a quantity of from about 28 wt/wt % to about 55 wt/wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier;    b) a fat component present in a quantity of from about 1 wt/wt % to about 30 wt/wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier; and    c) at least one source of insoluble calcium.    
     
     
         8 . The powdered human milk fortifier according to  claim 7  in which: 
 a) said protein component is present in the quantity of from about 28 wt/wt % to about 42 wt/wt %; and  
 said fat component is present in the quantity of from about 1 wt/wt % to about 18 wt/wt %.  
 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing supplemental nutrients to preterm infants comprising adding the powdered human milk fortifier according to  claim 7  to human milk and administering a fortified human milk to a premature infant.  
     
     
         10 . A method for promoting growth of a premature infant comprising administering fortified human milk to a premature infant, said fortified human milk comprises: 
 a) human milk, and    b) the powdered human milk fortifier according to claims  7 .    
     
     
         11 . The method of providing supplemental nutrients according to  claim 9  wherein about 0.5 gm to about 10 gm of powdered human milk fortifier is administered per day.  
     
     
         12 . A fortified human milk comprising: 
 a) human milk, and    b) from about 0.5 wt/vol % to about 10.0 wt/vol % of a powdered human milk fortifier which comprises: 
 i) a protein component present in a quantity of from about 27 wt/wt % to about 42 wt/wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier;  
 ii) a fat component present in a quantity of from about 1 wt/wt % to about 30 wt/wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier; and  
 iii) at least one source of insoluble calcium.  
   
     
     
         13 . A fortified human milk comprising: 
 a) human milk, and    b) from about 0.5 wt/vol % to about 10.0 wt/vol % of a powdered human milk fortifier which comprises: 
 i. a protein component present in a quantity of from about 27 wt/wt % to about 42 wt/wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier;  
 ii. a fat component present in a quantity of from about 1 wt/wt % to about 30 wt/wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier.  
   
     
     
         14 . A powdered human milk fortifier comprising: 
 a) a protein component present in a quantity of from about 25 wt/wt % to about 55 wt/wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier;    b) a fat component present in a quantity of from about 1 wt/wt % to about 30 wt/wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier; and;    c) at least one source of insoluble calcium.    
     
     
         15 . The powdered human milk fortifier according to  claim 14  in which said fat component is present in the quantity of about 5 wt/wt % to about 30 wt/wt %  
     
     
         16 . The powdered human milk fortifer according to  claim 14  in which: 
 a) said protein component is present in the quantity of from about 27 wt/wt % to about 36 wt/wt %, and  
 b) said fat component is present in the quantity of from about 1 wt/wt % to about 20 wt/wt %.  
 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing supplemental nutrients to preterm infants comprising adding the powdered human milk fortifier according to  claim 14  to human milk and administering a fortified human milk to a premature infant.  
     
     
         18 . A method for promoting growth of a premature infant comprising administering fortified human milk to a premature infant, said fortified human milk comprises: 
 a) human milk, and    b) the powdered human milk fortifier according to  claim 15.