Inhibition of lipolytic activity in milk by polysaccharides.

The effect of gums on the activity of milk lipase and a Pseudomonas lipase in milk was investigated. Gums were hydrated in water and mixed with whole milk. Lipase was added to the gum-milk mixture and hydrolysis was determined after 48 h at 4 degrees C by the acid degree value method. Of the gums tested, the anionically charged lambda-, t- and kappa-carrageenan, furcellaran, and sodium alginate significantly inhibited milk lipase activity by 93.7, 81.2, 46.8, 50.6, and 62.1%, respectively. Furthermore, lambda-carrageenan was 87.6% effective in inhibiting lipolysis by a purified Pseudomonas fluorescens MC50 lipase in milk. The other gums tested, tragacanth, carboxymethyl cellulose, locust bean, propylene glycol alginate, xanthan, microcrystalline cellulose, guar, and arabic did not significantly inhibit milk lipase. Commonly used stabilizers can inhibit lipolytic activity in milk.