The Claim
Significant interindividual variability exists in the antioxidant response to Holder pasteurization across donor human milk samples, and this variability is associated with differences in maternal factors including lactation stage, diet, genetics, and health status.
What the research says
Roughly balanced
Support and challenge are close. The picture may shift as more studies come in.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Different samples of pasteurized human milk show varying levels of antioxidant activity, and these differences are linked to variations in the mothers' lactation stage, diet, genetics, and health status.
See the scientific wording
Significant interindividual variability exists in the antioxidant response to Holder pasteurization across donor human milk samples, likely due to differences in maternal factors such as lactation stage, diet, genetics, and health status, as observed in a pilot study of eight donors.
When human milk is heated during pasteurization, some of its antioxidant proteins and molecules break down due to heat, making it less able to neutralize harmful free radicals. The extent of this breakdown varies between individuals because the original levels of these heat-sensitive components differ based on the mother's biology and lifestyle.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Loss of antioxidant function in donor human milk after holder pasteurization: a pilot study
The study found that when milk from different moms is pasteurized, some lose more of their protective antioxidants than others — and the researchers think this is because moms are different in how they eat, their health, or how long they’ve been breastfeeding.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.