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Composition of milks

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Energy (kJ) and nutrient content (g/dl) of milks:

  • mature breast milk:
    • carbohydrate 7.4
    • protein 1.2
    • casein 0.5
    • fat 3.8
    • Na mmol/l 7.0
    • K mmol/l 13.0
    • calcium mg/l 34.0
    • phosphorus 140.0

  • colostrum:
    • carbohydrate 5.3
    • protein 2.3
    • casein 1.2
    • fat 2.3
    • Na mmol/l 48.0
    • K mmol/l 73.0
    • calcium mg/l 30.0
    • phosphorus 150.0

  • cow's milk:  
    • carbohydrate 4.9
    • protein 3.3
    • casein 2.7
    • fat 3.8
    • Na mmol/l 21.0
    • K mmol/l 38.0
    • calcium mg/l 117.0
    • phosphorus 920.0

As a general principal it may be remembered that practically everything is lower in breast milk than cow's milk, except for carbohydrate, which is higher.


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