Lactose dosage

Lactose testing measures the content of this natural disaccharide found in milk and its derivatives. This analysis is essential for food, nutraceutical, and formulated products, particularly those intended for people with lactose intolerance. It is also used to verify the compliance of products labeled "lactose-free" or "lactose-reduced."

Carried out by HPLC , enzymatic or polarimetry , lactose dosage provides a precise evaluation of the carbohydrate profile of samples and guarantees the nutritional and regulatory quality of formulations.

Lactose: a key sugar in dietary control

Lactose (CAS No. 63-42-3) is a sugar naturally present in mammalian milk. It is formed from a glucose molecule and a galactose molecule linked by a β-1,4-glycosidic bond. In humans, its digestion depends on the enzyme lactase, the partial or total deficiency of which leads to lactose intolerance , causing digestive disorders.

To address this issue, many “lactose-free” or low-lactose products have emerged on the market. The dosage of this sugar then becomes an essential indicator for:

• certify the absence or reduction of lactose in finished products,
• control the quality of fermented, hydrolyzed or enriched dairy products,
• verify the conformity of nutritional claims,
• evaluate the performance of enzymatic processes for lactose degradation (β-galactosidase).

Objectives and measured parameters

Lactose measurement allows:

• quantify the residual lactose content in milk, cheese, yogurts, fortified vegetable drinks or supplements,
• control the carbohydrate composition of finished products,
• detect possible traces of lactose in formulations declared “lactose-free”,
• check the purity and composition of sugars used in ingredients or excipients.

The analysis can be performed in a wide range of matrices: milks, beverages, protein powders, baby foods, nutritional supplements, fermented products, animal feed or plant extracts.

Analytical methods used

Lactose measurement is based on different analytical approaches chosen according to the nature of the matrix and the desired precision:

• HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) : the reference method for the separation and quantification of simple sugars and disaccharides. Suitable for complex matrices, it can distinguish lactose from glucose, galactose and other sugars present.
• LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) : ultra-sensitive method used for the detection of traces of lactose in “lactose-free” formulations.
• Enzymatic methods : based on the enzymatic conversion of lactose into glucose and galactose, then on the colorimetric or spectrophotometric measurement of the glucose formed.
• Polarimetry : Used for rapid routine checks in simple products, by measuring the specific optical rotation of sugar.

YesWeLab also offers complementary analyses for studying the carbohydrate profile of food products, such as glucose dosage , fructose dosage, or sucrose dosage . These services allow you to obtain a complete map of the sugars present in your formulations.

Industrial and regulatory applications

Lactose dosage concerns several sectors:

• Food industry : control of lactose content in dairy products, chocolates, pastries, drinks, nutritional powders and infant foods.
• Nutraceutical : verification of residual lactose content in food supplements containing excipients of dairy origin.
• Animal nutrition : quantification of lactose in powdered milk and formulations intended for young animals.
• Pharmaceutical industry : control of lactose as an excipient in solid formulations (tablets, capsules, oral powders).

Lactose analysis can be combined with other services from the YesWeLab catalog, such as total sugars measurement , glycemic index measurement , or enzymatic glucose analysis, in order to link carbohydrate composition to the metabolic response of products.

Carrying out analyses at YesWeLab

YesWeLab entrusts lactose measurement to partner laboratories specialized in chromatographic and enzymatic analyses. These laboratories are equipped with the latest generation of HPLC, LC-MS/MS and spectrophotometric systems, guaranteeing the reliability and reproducibility of measurements, even at trace levels.

The majority of partners are certified or accredited according to the ISO 17025 standard and the COFRAC standard, guaranteeing compliance and traceability of results.

The YesWeLab scientific team assists manufacturers in choosing the most appropriate method for their samples: dairy products, beverages, supplements, or ingredients. Thanks to the YesWeLab digital platform, analysis management is fast and transparent: online quotes, sample tracking, and secure receipt of analysis reports.

Since 2020, many food and nutraceutical manufacturers and distributors have trusted YesWeLab for the quality control and compliance of their carbohydrate products.

Technical data

• CAS No.: 63-42-3
• Methods: HPLC, LC-MS/MS, enzymatic, polarimetry
• Expertise: Physicochemical, nutritional
• Sectors of activity: Human food, nutraceuticals, animal nutrition, plants
• Measured parameters: Lactose and associated sugars (glucose, galactose)

For any specific request, contact our team to obtain a personalized quote and analytical advice tailored to your food formulations or supplements.