Breast milk showdown: preterm vs term – What's the difference?
NCT ID NCT07399405
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study looked at 103 research articles to compare the nutrients in breast milk from mothers who gave birth early (preterm) versus full-term. The goal was to see if there are differences in energy, protein, fat, and other nutrients. This is a review of existing studies, not a treatment trial, so no participants received any intervention.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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102 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2022
- Finished
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Sep 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Among these studies, most of them were performed in Europe. The sample size ranged from 10 to 2,633, with a median sample size of 49. All studies provided comparative data from mothers who delivered preterm and term infants, with gestational age consistently categorized as preterm (\<37 weeks) and term (≥37 weeks). The stage of lactation at sample collection (including colostrum, transitional, and mature milk) was reported in most studies.
- Ages
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Children (under 18), adults (18 to 64) and older adults (65 and over)
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Studies needed to be population-based observational designs and report nutrient composition data for both preterm and term human milk. They must clearly define gestational age (preterm: 25-36 weeks; term: 37-42 weeks) and examine at least one comparable nutrient in both groups, such as energy, macronutrients (such as protein, fat, lactose), and/or micronutrients (including minerals like calcium and phosphorus, and vitamins such as vitamin D). We included articles published in Chinese or English only. Exclusion Criteria: * Studies were excluded if they focused solely on mothers with specific medical conditions (such as malnutrition, mastitis, or diabetes), if they involved nutrient supplementation as an intervention, or if they were published in languages other than Chinese or English.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Sun Yat-sen University
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China