Evaluation of Mineral Content in Preterm Human Milk and Infant Formulas in Qatar: Assessing Compliance With Dietary Recommendations and Label Accuracy

Preterm infants have higher energy and nutrient needs compared to term infants, with human milk recommended as the primary feeding choice and infant formula as the secondary option. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration of essential trace minerals (manganese, copper, iron, and zinc) in preterm human milk and infant formulas in Qatar, and assess their nutrition label accuracy and compliance with nutritional requirements. Mineral analysis was performed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples included 50 liquid human milk samples from lactating mothers of preterm infants, 42 powder infant formulas from local markets and pharmacies, and 10 water samples commonly used in Qatar. All human milk and infant formulas were below the recommended zinc and iron ranges as per the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN). Additionally, 96% (48/50) of human milk and 95% (40/42) of infant formulas were below the recommended copper range. Furthermore, 34% (17/50) of human milk samples for manganese were below the recommended range, whereas 86% (36/42) of infant formulas exceeded it. Water samples showed mineral levels below detection limits, and thus had no contribution to mineral levels in reconstituted formulas. Significant differences were found between label and laboratory-tested values for copper (p = 0.0039) and zinc (p = 0.0000), with label values higher than laboratory results. No significant differences were observed for manganese (p = 0.7564) or iron (p = 0.1966). Reconstituted formulas had significantly higher manganese, zinc, and iron laboratory levels (p < 0.001) than human milk, whereas copper showed no significant difference (p = 0.324). These findings highlight mineral imbalances in both human milk and infant formulas for preterm infants, demonstrating the need for human milk fortifiers, improved nutrient formulation, accurate labeling, and further research to ensure optimal health outcomes.