The lecithins (E 322)is identified as mixtures or fractions of phosphatides obtained by physicalprocedures from animal or vegetable foodstuffs. They also include the corresponding hydrolysed products like non-hydrolysed and hydrolysed.
The content (percentage) of the principal components of lecithins depends on different raw material sources. Soy Lecithin liquid (oil) obtained from soya beans is a mixture containing about 60% phospholipids and 40% triglycerides, sterols and carbohydrates in various proportions.
The deoiled soy lecithin (oil free lecithin) composition is 21% phosphatidylcholine, 22% phosphatidylethanolamine, 19% phosphatidylinositol, 10% phosphatidic acid, 1% phosphatidylserine and 12% glycolipids.
Summarised data on phospholipid composition of soya lecithin (liquid, de-oiled, hydrolysed), sunflower lecithin (liquid, deoiled) and rape seed lecithin from the European Lecithin Manufacturers Association (ELMA) (Document provided to EFSA n.18)
*: In this product phospholipids are partially hydrolysed. Reported content of liso phosphatidyl choline is 3.85-4.56%, lyso phosphatidyl inositol is 0.88-1.36%, lyso phosphatidyl ethanolamine is 1.67-2.31% and lyso phosphatidic acid is 1.19-1.34%
Fatty Acid composition in Soy Lecithin deoiled.
reported that the fatty acid composition of oil-free soya lecithins was:
-18.4% palmitic acid; CH3(CH2)14COOH
-4.0% stearic acid: CH3(CH2)16COOH,
-10.7% oleic acid: CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7COOH),
-58.0% linoleic acid: (CH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)7COOH),
-6.8% linolenic acid: (CH3(CH2CH=CH)3(CH2)7CO2H),
– 2.1% others.