Objective: We tested the hypothesis that creamatocrit, the length of the cream column separated from milk by centrifugation and expressed as a percentage of the length of the total milk column, is a useful measure of the lipid concentration and the energy content of human milk.
Study design: Milk samples from 17 mothers of preterm infants were analyzed prospectively, fresh as well as frozen and thawed, for creamatocrit measurement and nutrient composition.
Results: Creamatocrit correlated strongly with lipid concentration and energy content of human milk, fresh or frozen and thawed. The energy content can be calculated from the regression equation: Energy (kcal/dl) = 5.99 x creamatocrit(%) + 32.5 for a fresh sample, and energy (kcal/dl) = 6.20 x creamatocrit(%) + 35.1 for a frozen sample.
Conclusion: Calculations of energy content from the creamatocrit measurement may be useful for an accurate assessment of energy intake in preterm infants fed human milk.