Lipase activity assay

Lipase is an essential enzyme in many biological and industrial systems. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of triglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol, making it a central component in lipid digestion, fermentation, and enzyme formulation processes.

Lipase activity measurement quantifies the enzymatic efficacy of an extract or finished product. It is essential for ensuring the quality of enzymatic formulations, validating the functional properties of food supplements, or monitoring the biological activity of fermented products.

Why analyze lipase activity?

Assessment of lipase activity is a requirement in many areas:

• Nutraceutical: control of enzymatic stability in extracts and supplements;
• Food industry: monitoring of fermentation or enzymatic rancidity in dairy products, cheeses, oils or derivatives;
• Animal nutrition: formulation of digestive enzymes in animal feed;
• Plants and plant extracts: standardization of natural ingredients for health or technical purposes.

This assay is also useful for the development of probiotic or fermented products, where enzymatic activity plays a functional or organoleptic role.

Analytical methods used

At YesWeLab, lipase enzyme activity is determined using two main approaches:

• Spectrophotometry: use of chromogenic substrates (e.g. p-nitrophenyl palmitate) which release a colored product measurable in absorbance;
• Titrimetry: measurement of fatty acids released by enzymatic hydrolysis using a strong base (e.g. NaOH), according to standardized methods.

These methods allow activity to be expressed in enzymatic units (U/g or U/mg), according to industrial standards.

Affected matrices

The lipase activity test is applicable to a wide variety of matrices, including:

• Enzyme powders (isolates or complex enzyme mixtures);
• Food supplements (capsules, tablets, functional mixtures);
• Fermented products (cheeses, yogurts, fermented vegetable drinks);
• Plant extracts rich in natural enzymes or derived from biotechnology.

Further analyses recommended

For a complete enzymatic characterization, YesWeLab offers to combine this analysis with other compatible services:

• Amylase activity assay – for starch hydrolyzing enzymes
• Protease assay (proteolytic activity) – complementary for enzyme mixtures
• Bromelain dosage – a plant enzyme often associated with lipase
• Moisture determination – useful for standardizing extracts
• Heavy metal determination (Pb, Cd, Hg, As) – to ensure regulatory compliance of enzymatic extracts

YesWeLab, your partner for enzymatic testing

Since 2020, YesWeLab has been supporting manufacturers, formulators, and laboratories in managing their analyses, via a digital platform that simplifies ordering, sample tracking, and result retrieval. Thanks to a network of ISO 17025 / COFRAC accredited partner laboratories, we guarantee reliable, fast results tailored to your matrices and requirements.

Order your lipase activity analysis

Add this service to your personalized quote or contact our scientific team for dedicated support for your analytical project.