Today through some casual talk about kids, babies and health with a new friend, it came up that her breast milk was turning sour after only one day in the fridge. How could this be? Perhaps something she was eating?
Actually no. The breast milk is turning quickly due to an over production of Lipase (pronounced with a long I and a long A).
Lipase is a protein that breaks down the fat in the breast milk to make it easier to digest. However, too much lipase obviously breaks it down even faster, which causes it to spoil faster. In order to slow down the process, you would need to scald the milk first and then freeze it. With that, it should be double bagged, bags put in glass jars (for easier re-heating) and placed in to a pan with baking soda to absorb any odors in the freezer. Keep the bottles at least one inch from all sides of the freezer and off of the door. It should be used within 2 weeks according to another Mom at parents.berkeley.edu.
This is actually someone making Mozzarella but you get the idea.
So, what causes the excess lipase enzymes or hyperlipasemia? Your pancreas is what actually makes the Lipase as well as Amylase. Digestion of food requires both of these enzymes. The Amylase enzyme is used to break down the carbohydrates, while the Lipase is used to break down the fats. an over production can mean problems with your pancreas.
Causes of hyperlipasemia (high lipase levels) may include:
- Pancreatitis – also known as inflammation of the pancreas, can cause amylase and lipase levels to be increased up to 3 times normal. Both values should be increased, in order to carry the diagnosis of pancreatitis.
- Lipase may be increased in tumors of the pancreas, or stomach certain stomach conditions. These conditions are usually painful.
- Gall bladder infection – Inflammation of the gall bladder (cholecystitis), may cause increased lipase levels (hyperlipasemia).
- Kidney failure can cause hyperlipasemia.
- Your doctor or health care provider will diagnose hyperlipasemia by drawing a tube of blood. If there is a suspicion of gall bladder, pancreas or kidney problems, an ultrasound of the gall bladder or pancreas, or a CAT scan of your abdomen, may also be performed.
There may not be any symptoms of high Lipase enzymes however, if it is due to pancreatitis then you may feel lower abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
If your pancreas is inflamed due to pancreatitis, and your pancreas is unable to produce insulin, you may have symptoms of diabetes, which include excessive thirst, frequent urination, exhaustion and weight loss. This is often temporary. Symptoms of pancreatitis may include nausea, sweating and weakness. You may also notice pain in the middle of your chest, which may move or radiate to your back.
This is definitely something to call your doctor about. You must remain well hydrated, do not drink alcohol, and eat a diet low in fat and red meat but high in fiber. There is a wealth of information online so read all you can. I found some great info at http://parents.berkeley.edu