Cariogenic Potential of Stored Human Milk—An In Vitro Study
Amitha M. Hegde / Rani Vikyath

Human milk samples collected from ten lactating mothers in the K. S. Hegde Medical Hospital, Mangalore were divided into five different parts and stored at different temperatures for varying durations. The pH, buffer capacity and growth of Streptococcus mutans were assessed in each of these samples. There was a fall in pH of human milk stored at various temperatures. The buffer capacity of human milk increased with duration of storage. There was an increase in Streptococcus colony count in stored human milk proportional to the duration of storage and it increased more rapidly in case of milk stored at higher temperatures (0ºC - 4ºC) compared to the milk stored in the freezer (-19ºC). Milk samples stored at room temperature for 6 hours and in the freezer at -19ºC for 2 weeks were found to be relatively safe.
Keywords: Human milk, Storage, Cariogenic potential, pH, Buffer capacity, Streptococcus mutans.
List of Abbreviations: HBM- Human breast milk; Sm- Streptoccus mutans