Bulk lecithin powder is a phospholipid substance widely found in animals and plants. It is mainly derived from soybeans, sunflower seeds and egg yolks. It has excellent emulsification, nutritional value, and the ability to promote the absorption of fat-soluble substances, and is widely used in the food industry. Especially in infant formula, adult milk powder, and special medical formula milk powder. So, why can lecithin be added to milk powder?
Basic properties of lecithin
•Chemical composition
Lecithin is mainly composed of PC, PE, PI, and other phospholipids. These phospholipids have hydrophilic and hydrophobic structures and can form a stable emulsion layer at the water-oil interface. They can make the fat and water phases evenly distributed.
•Physical properties
Lecithin can be presented in different forms. This includes powdered and liquid forms. Guanjie Biotech is a lecithin manufacturer. We provide lecithin powder, lecithin liquid. Our bulk lecithin comes from soy lecithin bulk, sunflower lecithin bulk and egg yolks. Its good solubility and dispersibility enable it to be evenly distributed in milk powder, avoid fat separation, and improve solubility after brewing.
Main functions of milk powder
1. Emulsification and stabilization
Milk powder needs to dissolve quickly and form a stable emulsion when it is mixed. The fat components in it are easy to aggregate to form oil droplets, which affects the uniformity of the mixing. The addition of lecithin powder bulk can play an emulsifying role. It can make fat molecules evenly dispersed in water, prevent oil and water separation, and improve solubility.
•Mechanism of action:
The hydrophilic end of lecithin combines with water, and the lipophilic end combines with fat so that the fat particles are wrapped by water molecules. This can form a stable emulsion.
•Application effect:
It can reduce the oil floating layer after milk powder is brewed and improve the uniformity of the emulsion.
2. Improve the wettability and solubility of milk powder
The solubility of milk powder is one of the important indicators to measure its quality. Due to the high surface tension of milk powder particles, it is easy to form clumps in water, which affects the dissolution rate. Bulk lecithin powder can reduce the surface tension of milk powder particles, improve wettability, and make milk powder easier to dissolve.
•Mechanism of action:
Bulk lecithin powder reduces the surface energy of milk powder particles, making it easier for water to infiltrate milk powder and increase the dissolution rate.
•Application effect:
After brewing, milk powder can be quickly dispersed to reduce agglomeration.
3. Improve the physical stability of milk powder
Milk powder is prone to moisture absorption, agglomeration, or odor due to fat oxidation during storage. The addition of lecithin helps to enhance the stability of milk powder.
•Prevent agglomeration:
Soy lecithin wholesale can form a protective film on the surface of milk powder particles to reduce moisture adsorption. This can reduce the risk of agglomeration.
•Antioxidant effect:
The phosphatidylcholine in lecithin has certain antioxidant properties. It can reduce the rate of fat oxidation and extend the shelf life of milk powder.
4. Prevent agglomeration
Milk powder may agglomerate due to humidity during storage, affecting the user experience. Lecithin can form a protective film on the surface of the particles to reduce direct contact between powder particles. It can reduce the risk of agglomeration.
5. Enhance nutritional value
Lecithin is rich in PC. It is an important component of human cell membranes and helps brain development, nerve conduction, and liver health. In addition, lecithin contains unsaturated fatty acids, which help improve the nutritional value of milk powder.
Effect of lecithin on milk powder quality
•Taste optimization
Bulk lecithin powder can improve the taste of milk powder, making it smoother after brewing and reducing the graininess.
•Appearance improvement
After adding lecithin, the surface of milk powder is more uniform and the color is more consistent, improving the visual experience of consumers.
•Improving storage stability
Lecithin can reduce the hygroscopicity of milk powder and reduce agglomeration. This can improve storage stability and extend the shelf life of the product.
Enhancing the nutritional value of milk powder
Lecithin can not only improve the physical properties of milk powder but also provide a variety of nutrients. This has important health benefits for infants and adults.
(1) Promote the development of the brain and nervous system of infants and young children
Phosphatidylcholine is an important component of the brain and nervous system. This helps the formation and repair of nerve cell membranes. Adding lecithin to infant formula can promote brain development and improve cognitive ability and memory. Clinical studies have shown that phosphatidylcholine can promote the synthesis of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is an important neurotransmitter responsible for information transmission in the brain and helps improve learning ability.
(2) Promote the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Milk powder usually contains fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins require lipid carriers to be effectively absorbed by the intestines. Bulk lecithin powder can emulsify fat-soluble vitamins and improve their bioavailability. The microemulsified structure formed by lecithin can enhance the solubility of fat-soluble vitamins and promote intestinal absorption. It can enhance the absorption efficiency of vitamins A, D, E, and K in milk powder and improve nutritional value.
(3) Protect liver health
Phosphatidylcholine in lecithin helps fat metabolism and reduces fat accumulation in the liver. This has a positive effect on preventing fatty liver. In adult milk powder and special medical formula milk powder, adding lecithin can play a role in protecting the liver. Phosphatidylcholine can promote fat emulsification and transportation, reduce liver fat accumulation, and is beneficial to patients with fatty liver.
Application in different milk powders
•Infant formula milk powder
Infant formula milk powder is one of the most widely used areas of lecithin. Since the digestive system of infants and young children is not yet fully developed, the addition of lecithin helps emulsify and absorb fat and improve the nutritional value of milk powder.
In addition, phosphatidylcholine in lecithin can promote the development of the brain and nervous system. Therefore, it is one of the important ingredients of infant formula milk powder.
•Adult milk powder
In milk powder for the elderly or special groups, the addition of lecithin is mainly used to enhance memory, prevent cardiovascular diseases, and improve fat metabolism.
•Sports nutrition milk powder
For athletes, the addition of lecithin helps improve energy metabolism and exercise performance. Lecithin helps emulsify fat, improves the utilization of fat during exercise, and provides a stable energy source for muscles. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine help repair damaged muscle tissue and speed up recovery after exercise.
Usage standards and safety
1. Addition standard
Different countries and regions have different regulations on the amount of lecithin added to milk powder.
•China's national food safety standard GB 14880-2012 stipulates that lecithin can be used as a food nutrient fortifier in infant formula.
•EU Regulation No 1333/2008 allows lecithin to be used as an emulsifier in infant formula, but its usage is limited.
•The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists lecithin as a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) substance, which can be safely used in food.
2. Safety Assessment
Lecithin is a natural food ingredient that does not contain harmful chemicals. Lecithin granules bulk has been certified by food safety regulators in many countries and regions, and long-term consumption will not adversely affect human health.
Lecithin has become an indispensable ingredient in milk powder formula. Whether in infant formula, adult milk powder, or special medical formula milk powder, bulk lecithin powder has shown great application value. If you are a milk powder manufacturer and need to add lecithin to your product, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at info@gybiotech.com. We have soy lecithin, egg yolk lecithin and sunflower lecithin. Different specifications and forms are available for you to choose from.
