The recent question someone recently raised about the effect of bili lights  
on milk piqued my curiosity and sent me to do a google search. Here is what I  
found:
 
Basically, the info is concerned with cow's milk and I make no claim that  it 
can be applied to human milk (however, it makes sense, doesn't it?). 
 
The first thing to note is that phototherapy is not (contrary to most  public 
and professional beliefs) ultraviolet light, but rather blue light. The  
difference is in the wave length of the light waves. According to a variety of  
sources, UV is listed in the range of 400nm to 10nm; blue light is in the range  
of 400-490 nm (with visible light of all colors - remember ROYGBIV- ranging  
750-400). Phototherapy is generally blue or blue-green light in the range of  
425-490nm.
 
That being said, according to a dairy reference I found, "The nutrients in 
[cow's] milk are most sensitive to light in the  blue-violet area of the visible 
spectrum. This is in the range of 400 to 500  nanometers in wavelength. 
Contrary to popular belief, ultraviolet light in the  area below
about 380 nanometers, and visible light above 500 nanometers in  wavelength 
have relatively little effect on the vitamins and other nutrients in  milk. The 
amount of photooxidation that can occur is a function of the amount of  
radiant energy reaching the milk and the length of exposure to the light." 
(_http://www.bpsolvaype.com/na/upload/techpub_n3.pdf_ 
(http://www.bpsolvaype.com/na/upload/techpub_n3.pdf) )
 
According to that source, it would seem that  phototherapy lights are exactly 
the range that would have the maximum effect on  (cow's) milk. 
 
Further, it is apparently quite well known in the dairy  industry about the 
"photooxidative destruction of labile vitamins. The most  sensitive labeled 
vitamins affected in milk are riboflavin (B2) and added  vitamin A. The second 
problem is oxidation of lipids, amino acids, and proteins  with a possible 
result of developing off-flavor. This occurs mainly through a  breakdown of 
unsaturated fatty acids. Photooxidation of vitamins such as  riboflavin can trigger 
in turn the oxidation of some compounds, including the  amino acid methionine, 
which contains sulfur. Raw milk is more prone to  photooxidation than 
processed milk." (same reference as above paragraph). 
 
Another article incorporated several studies which demonstrated the “Light  
Oxidized effect” on milk due to the use of fluorescent lighting in food  
displays. "Milk loses not only flavour in this process, but also experiences  
nutrient losses with degradation of riboflavin, Vitamin A and D".  
(_http://www.safespectrum.com/temp/applications-dairy.php_ 
(http://www.safespectrum.com/temp/applications-dairy.php) )
 

Based on this strictly non-scientific research info, I would caution anyone  
from keeping bottles of breast milk or formula under phototherapy (bili) 
lights  until further info is available. Interesting stuff!  

Kathy Rubin  in NJ
RN, C (Maternal/Infant), APN, C (Family Nurse Practitioner), LC
PhD  Candidate at Rutgers, NJ College of Nursing
(causing me to  spend way too much time on the internet looking things  up!)


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