Human milk is a dynamic, multi-faceted fluid containing nutrients and bioactive factors
needed for infant health and development. Its composition varies by stage of lactation and
between term and preterm infants. While many studies of human milk composition have
been conducted, components of human milk are still being identified. Standardized, multipopulation
studies of human milk composition are sorely needed to create a rigorous,
comprehensive reference inclusive of nutrients and bioactive factors. Nevertheless,knowledge of human milk composition is increasing, leading to greater understanding of the
role of human milk in infant health and development