Vitamin Content of Breast Milk From HIV-1–Infected Mothers Before and After Flash-Heat Treatment

Flash-heat treatment of expressed breastmilk from HIV-positive mothers did not significantly affect vitamin A (retinol) concentration, retaining 94.1% of the original level.

Effect: null; 0.94; CI: 95% CI 0.84 to 1.05

Flash-heat treatment significantly increased folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in breastmilk from HIV-positive mothers, and ascorbic acid increased with borderline significance, likely due to heat

Effect: improvement; 1.44; CI: 95% CI 1.23 to 1.69

Flash-heat treatment significantly reduced riboflavin (vitamin B2) concentration in breastmilk from HIV-positive mothers to 59% of unheated levels, making it the most affected vitamin.

Effect: adverse; 0.59; CI: 95% CI 0.44 to 0.81

Flash-heat treatment significantly but minimally reduced pyridoxal-5-phosphate (vitamin B6) concentration in breastmilk from HIV-positive mothers to 96% of unheated levels.

Effect: adverse; 0.96; CI: 95% CI 0.923 to 0.99