The invention relates to a powdered human milk fortifier comprising a
protein component typically present in an amount
ranging from 6 wt / wt % to 20 wt / wt % of the fortifier
powder, and a fat component typically present in an amount of from about 0.1 wt / wt % to 10 wt / wt % of the fortifier
powder and a
carbohydrate component selected from the group of
Lactose and Oligosaccharides present in the in an amount from 50 wt / wt % to 75 wt / wt % of the fortifier
powder; a
moisture in the powdered milk fortifier in present in quantity of about 1.5 wt / wt % to about 4.5 wt / wt % of the powdered human milk fortifier; nutrients in the powdered milk fortifier selected from the group of Nucleotides, Minerals including but not limited to
calcium, phosphorous, IgA, IgM, IgG,
Lactoferrin, Nucleotides,
Linolenic acid and Growth factors alike.The invention further provides a powdered human
milk lipid rich fortifier with a fat component in a quantity
ranging from 40 wt / wt % to about 80 wt / wt %, further in where the lipids are derived from human milk and a
moisture component in quantity
ranging from 1.5 wt / wt % to about 4.5 wt / wt %; and nutrients selected from the group of Nucleotides, Minerals including but not limited to
calcium, phosphorous, IgA, IgM, IgG,
Lactoferrin, Nucleotides,
Linolenic acid and Growth factors alike.The invention presents an energy rich human milk powder with an energy content in a quantity ranging from 70 cal / 100 mL to about 90 cal / 100 mL; a
moisture component in a quantity ranging from 1.5 wt / wt % to about 4.5 wt / wt %; and nutrients selected from the group of Nucleotides, Minerals including but not limited to
calcium, phosphorous, IgA, IgM, IgG,
Lactoferrin, Nucleotides,
Linolenic acid and Growth factors alike.Preferably, the freeze dried human milk fortifier is provided in a unit
dose container which holds from about in which about 0.5 gm to about 10 gm of said fortifier. The instant invention also relates to a method of providing
nutrition to preterm infants by adding a fortifier powder to human milk and administering the fortified human milk to a premature infant. The invention further provides a method of promoting growth of a premature infant by administering fortified human milk to a premature infant.