Lactase powder and method for producing the same

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a novel lactase composition that is highly active and has improved activity yield during production, and does not contain glycerol. [Solution] A buffer containing a salt that is contained within the pH range of 5 to 9 when dissolved is mixed with a lactase solution within a specific range, and the resulting lactase powder, when spray-dried, exhibits improved lactase activity and activity yield in the powder.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to lactase powder and a method for producing the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to lactase powder with improved lactase activity and activity yield during production. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Lactose intolerance refers to a condition in which lactose-degrading enzyme (lactase), which breaks down lactose contained in dairy products such as milk into glucose and galactose, is not sufficiently present in the small intestine, so that lactose cannot be properly broken down, resulting in various symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. In order to address lactose intolerance, it is common practice in the food manufacturing industry to pre-decompose lactose contained in dairy products into galactose and glucose using the enzyme lactase.

[0003] Generally, in the production of enzyme preparations, in order to convert unstable biologically active substances into stable products, the mixture is dried together with excipients.

[0004] Lactase is also used in the production of processed milk for infants. In recent years, consumers have become increasingly interested in labeling of raw materials in products, and an increasing number of consumers have a strong preference for clean labels, which demand that the number of types of raw materials used be as small as possible, and that the names of raw materials be simple and easy to understand. In particular, consumers tend to avoid glycerol in foods and drinks for infants.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a stable aqueous liquid lactase preparation that does not contain glycerol, wherein the lactase preparation is a lactase solution containing at least 20% by weight of sodium, calcium, or potassium L-lactate, or a combination thereof.

[0006] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that a spray-dried composition comprising a polypeptide that is β-galactosidase having galactosyl transfer activity, and maltodextrin and / or sodium chloride is physically stable. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7107493 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Publication No. 7171560 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a novel lactase composition that is highly active and has improved activity yield during production, and does not contain glycerol. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The inventors of the present invention have discovered that when a buffer containing a salt with a pH of 5 to 9 is mixed with a lactase solution within a specific range and spray-dried, the lactase powder exhibits improved lactase activity and activity yield, thus completing the present invention.

[0010] In other words, the present invention provides the following [1] to [9]. [1] Lactase powder containing lactase and a salt, wherein the salt is contained within the pH range of 5 to 9 when dissolved in water, and the amount of salt per gram of lactase powder is 0.003 g or more and 0.38 g or less. [2] The lactase powder according to [1], wherein the salt is 0.03 g or more and 0.2 g or less. [3] The lactase powder according to [1] or [2], wherein the salt is at least one of a phosphate salt or a chloride salt. [4] The lactase powder according to any one of items [1] to [3], wherein the phosphate is potassium phosphate and the chloride salt is potassium chloride. Lactase powder according to any one of items [5](1) to [4), further comprising one selected from maltodextrin, soluble dietary fiber, and trehalose. [6] The lactase powder according to [5], wherein the content of maltodextrin, soluble dietary fiber, or trehalose is 0.01 g or more per 1 g of the lactase powder. [7] The lactase powder according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the lactase is lactase produced by Kluyveromyces lactis. [8] A method for producing the lactase powder described in [1] to [7] by mixing lactase with a buffer solution containing salt and spray drying. [9] A method for producing food or beverages, comprising the step of adding lactase powder described in any one of items [1] to [7] to food or beverage ingredients containing lactose. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, a lactase powder with high activity and high activity yield can be obtained during manufacturing. Since this lactase does not contain glycerol, consumers can use food and beverages containing this lactase with peace of mind. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The present invention is a glycerol-free lactase powder containing lactase and salt, characterized in that the salt content is 0.003g or more and 0.38g or less per gram of lactase powder. The lower limit of the salt content may be 0.003g or more, 0.005g or more, 0.01g or more, 0.03g or more, 0.05g or more, or 0.1g or more. The upper limit of the salt content may be 0.38g or less, 0.35g or less, 0.30g or less, 0.25g or less, or 0.20g or less. The lower and upper limits of the salt content can be used in appropriate combinations. Furthermore, the lactase powder may also contain maltodextrin, soluble dietary fiber, or trehalose as excipients. By keeping the values ​​within the above range, we found that it is possible to obtain a lactase powder with high activity and high activity yield during manufacturing. Lactase powder can be obtained by volatilizing the water contained in a lactase solution. Generally, proteins are more structurally stable in solutions with high ionic strength. Therefore, it is preferable to increase the ionic strength to improve the stability of the lactase solution. However, when the ionic strength of the lactase solution was set lower than usual, and the water contained in the lactase solution was volatilized by spray drying to obtain lactase powder, it was surprisingly found that the lactase activity contained in the resulting lactase powder was within a desirable range. The reason for this is that the water contained in the lactase solution decreases rapidly during spray drying, and the mixture of lactase and salt precipitates rapidly. It is thought that if the salt concentration in the lactase solution is too high, it adversely affects the three-dimensional structure and active site of lactase. In addition to the above reason, by reducing the exposure of the enzyme to the liquid surface and reducing heat exposure during spray drying of the lactase solution, it is possible to obtain lactase powder with high activity and high activity yield during production. The salt and excipient may be dissolved in a lactase solution and then spray-dried. The purpose of adding the excipient is to maintain the three-dimensional structure even in a low-water content state (powder state) by having the excipient replace the water molecules that are hydrogen-bonded to the protein. By drying with an excipient that is prone to vitrification and encapsulating it in water-soluble glass, the rate of protein unfolding, aggregation, and degradation can be suppressed. The lactase powder of the present invention includes a form in which all or part of a salt is bound to lactase. The lactase powder may also contain aggregated lactase or aggregated salt. The lactase powder of the present invention, when an excipient is dissolved in a lactase solution, includes a form in which the excipient is bound to the lactase while all or part of the salt is bound to the lactase. The lactase powder may also contain aggregated lactase, aggregated salt, or aggregated excipient.

[0013] <lactase> The lactase powder of the present invention may contain components generated during the manufacturing process (such as culture medium components or contaminating proteins produced during the cultivation process).

[0014] (Origin of lactase) Lactase has been isolated from a very wide range of organisms, including microorganisms. Lactase is often an intracellular or extracellular component of microorganisms such as Kluyveromyces and Bacillus. Kluyveromyces, particularly K. flagilis and K. lactis, as well as yeasts of the genera Candida, Torula, and Torulopsis, are common sources of yeast enzyme lactase, while B. coagulans or B. circulans is a well-known source of bacterial lactase. Several lactase preparations derived from these organisms are commercially available. All of these lactases are so-called neutral lactases, with an optimal pH of pH=6 to pH=8. Additionally, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, and Penicillium multicolor produce extracellular lactase, and an example of such lactase produced by Aspergillus oryzae is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,736,374. The enzymatic properties of lactase, such as optimal pH and optimal temperature, vary depending on the species. Generally, extracellular lactase is a so-called acidic lactase, with an optimal pH of pH=3.5 to pH=5.0. In addition, there is lactase derived from Bifidobacterium bifidum that acts in neutral and acidic conditions (pH 4 to pH 10). It is also possible to carry out production by recombination of a lactase gene derived from these microorganisms into a host. Examples of the host include *Aspergillus*, *Kluyveromyces*, *Trichoderma*, *Escherichia coli*, *Pichia*, *Saccharomyces*, *Yarrowia*, *Neurospora*, *Lactococcus* and *Bacillus*. In the present invention, it is preferable to use a neutral lactase, and it is particularly preferable to use a neutral lactase derived from the genus *Kluyveromyces*.

[0015] The lactase powder of the present invention is not particularly limited, but desirably has a lactase activity of 10,000 to 1,600,000 ONPG U / g, more desirably has an activity of 1,000,000 to 1,460,000 ONPG U / g, and even more desirably has an activity of 10,000 to 1,140,000 ONPG U / g. The lower limit of the lactase activity of the lactase powder may be 100,000 ONPG U / g or more, 200,000 ONPG U / g or more, 300,000 ONPG U / g or more, 400,000 ONPG U / g or more, or 500,000 ONPG U / g or more. The above lower limit and upper limit of lactase activity may be combined as appropriate. Lactase activity was measured by the method described below. The measurement is carried out via hydrolysis of the substrate o-nitrophenyl-β-galactopyranoside (ONPG) into o-nitrophenol and galactose. The reaction is terminated by addition of sodium carbonate. The formed o-nitrophenol turns yellow in an alkaline medium, and the change in absorbance is used to measure the enzyme activity.

[0016] <Salt> The salt contained in the lactase powder only needs to be one that falls within the pH range of 5 to 9 when dissolved in water and has properties that do not cause inactivation of lactase protein. Salts formed by ionic bonding of ions derived from any acid and base can be used. It is preferable that the base-derived cations forming the salt are salts of sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, or magnesium respectively. It is preferable that the anions forming the salt are derived from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, or acetic acid. Any of normal salts, acid salts and basic salts can be used as the salt. Among salts, phosphate is preferable. Examples of the phosphate include sodium phosphate, calcium phosphate, ammonium phosphate, potassium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, iron phosphate, and the like. In the present invention, it is preferable to use potassium phosphate. The salts in the present invention may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds. In addition to phosphate, other salts may be used. For example, a combination of phosphate and chloride salt is preferable. Specifically, potassium phosphate and potassium chloride may be mixed and used. When two or more kinds are combined, it is preferable that the mixture has a buffering effect when dissolved in water. An aqueous solution of potassium phosphate and potassium chloride has a buffering effect. When lactase derived from Kluyveromyces lactis is used as lactase, it is preferable to use a monovalent metal cation. This facilitates stabilization of the protein structure in the lactase solution.

[0017] <Excipient> The lactase powder of the present invention may contain excipients as needed. The excipient used in the present invention is preferably a sugar. Specific examples include maltodextrin, soluble dietary fiber, and trehalose. The excipient content in the lactase powder is preferably 0.01g to 0.6g per gram of lactase powder, more preferably 0.03g to 0.55g, more preferably 0.05g to 0.5g, more preferably 0.08g to 0.45g, and more preferably 0.1g to 0.4g. If the amount of excipient is above the lower limit, the activity and activity yield during production will be further improved. In addition, it will be easier to maintain the lactase activity in the lactase powder over a long period of time. If the amount of excipient is above the upper limit, the proportion of enzyme (lactase) in the lactase powder will relatively decrease, and therefore the lactase activity per gram of powder will decrease.

[0018] <Optional ingredients> The lactase powder of the present invention may contain various components as needed. Examples include stabilizers, sugar excipients, and emulsifiers. Examples of stabilizers include ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid, catechin, various sugars, and amino acids. Examples of sugar excipients include glucose, galactose, mannitol, sorbitol, and cyclodextrin. Examples of emulsifiers include polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80.

[0019] <Manufacturing method> A method for producing lactase powder includes (1) preparing a lactase solution containing a salt whose pH is in the range of 5 to 9 when dissolved in water, and (2) drying the salt-containing lactase solution.

[0020] The method for producing the salt-containing lactase solution in step (1) includes, for example, a step of extracting lactase after culturing a microorganism such as yeast, which involves disrupting the cell wall; a step of purifying the extracted lactase to remove impurities from the culture; a step of concentrating the obtained lactase solution; and a step of adding a salt solution to the lactase concentrate. The method may also include a step of adding additives as needed to the lactase (which may be prepared immediately beforehand or be a commercially available product) and a step of filtering for sterilization.

[0021] The activity of the lactase concentrate before the addition of salt is 100,000 to 500,000 ONPG U / g, preferably 200,000 to 450,000 ONPG U / g, and more preferably 250,000 to 420,000 ONPG U / g. The amount of salt relative to the weight (g) of the above-mentioned active lactase solution is 0.13 g or less, preferably 0.03 g or less, and more preferably 0.007 g or less. The salt may be added directly to the lactase solution, or a salt solution may be prepared in advance and then added. If the amount of salt exceeds the upper limit, the lactase activity and activity yield during production will decrease. After adding the salt, water may be added to adjust the concentration of the salt-containing lactase solution.

[0022] In step (2), drying methods include, for example, freeze-drying, vacuum drying, and spray drying. The solid content of the salt-containing lactase solution is not particularly limited as long as it can be dried, but is 1 to 30% by mass, preferably 5 to 25% by mass, and more preferably 10 to 25% by mass. Within the above range, powder can be produced without clogging the nozzle during spray drying.

[0023] The lactase activity yield after spray drying should preferably be 59% or higher, more preferably 69% or higher, and even more preferably 79% or higher.

[0024] Here, lactase activity yield refers to the percentage obtained by dividing the "lactase powder activity corrected for water content (ONPG U / g)" by the "lactase activity per unit of solid content in the salt-containing lactase solution (ONPG U / g)". First, let's explain the lactase activity per unit of solid content in the salt-containing lactase solution (ONPG U / g). Specifically, the total activity of 50g (20% solid content) of a lactase concentrate with an ONPG U / g of 280,000 ONPG U / g is 280,000 × 50 = 14,000,000 ONPG U. When 30g (20% solid content) of salt solution is added to this lactase concentrate, the resulting salt-containing lactase solution is 80g (20% solid content), and the solid content in the salt-containing lactase solution is 16g. Therefore, the lactase activity per unit of solid content in the salt-containing lactase solution is 875,000 ONPG U / g, which is the total activity of 14,000,000 ONPG U divided by the solid content of 16g. This is the theoretical value assuming 100% yield and spray drying. Next, we will explain the "lactase powder activity (ONPG U / g) corrected for moisture content." The activity of the lactase powder is measured according to the lactase powder activity measurement method described later. After that, the moisture content of the lactase powder is measured and corrected by applying it to the calculation formula. The moisture content (mass%) of the lactase powder was measured using the atmospheric pressure heating drying method. The drying conditions can be those that are generally known, for example, drying at 105°C for 3 hours, cooling in a desiccator for 30 minutes, and then weighing accurately. Specifically, the corrected lactase powder activity of 450,000 ONPG U / g lactase powder with a moisture content of 5 mass% is the value obtained by dividing the lactase powder activity by the value obtained by subtracting the moisture content, i.e., 450,000 / 95 mass%, which is 474,000 ONPG U / g. The activity yield is 54.2%, which is the percentage obtained by dividing 474,000 ONPG U / g by 875,000 ONPG U / g.

[0025] The salt content in lactase powder can be determined by checking the ash content in nutritional analysis. Direct ashing is one method for measuring ash content. Further analytical methods such as EPMA or SEM-EDS can be used to determine the salt composition in the ash. The excipient content in lactase powder can be determined by checking the carbohydrate content. Carbohydrates are calculated by subtracting the percentages of water, protein, lipids, and ash (g / 100g). Protein can be measured by combustion, and lipids by Soxhlet, etc.

[0026] <How to use lactase powder> Specific applications of lactase powder include, for example, its use in the production of fermented milk. Methods for producing lactose-free fermented milk include: 1. Adding lactase to milk before pasteurization to break down lactose, then heating and sterilizing the milk while simultaneously deactivating the lactase, and then fermenting the milk (Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-5-1197); 2. Adding lactase to pasteurized milk to break down lactose, then deactivating the lactase by heat treatment, and then fermenting the milk; 3. Breaking down lactose in milk with immobilized lactase, and then fermenting the milk (Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-105593, Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-162833); 4. Using raw materials that have been lactose-free or lactose-removed in advance in pasteurized milk and then fermenting it.

[0027] Furthermore, a specific application of the lactase powder of the present invention is its use in the production of infant formula. A typical production process for infant formula involves clarifying, sterilizing, concentrating, homogenizing, and then spray-drying raw milk. The timing of adding the lactase powder is not particularly limited, but it is added before the sterilization process. It may also be added in a process where other components, such as minerals and vitamins, are optionally added. The lactase powder according to the present invention is particularly suitable for the manufacture of dairy products. Here, dairy products refer to milk, yogurt, fresh cream, sour cream, cheese, powdered milk, etc. In particular, the lactase powder according to the present invention is suitable for the manufacture of infant formula. [Examples]

[0028] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0029] [Manufacturing Example 1: Preparation of Glycerin-Free Lactase Concentrate] A lactase concentrate without glycerin was prepared as described below. A liquid culture medium containing 7% corn steep liquor and 2% lactose was pressure-sterilized (pH 5.5 after sterilization). Kluyveromyces lactis No. 013-2 (ATCC8585 strain) was inoculated into the medium and cultured at 30°C for 24 hours with aeration at 12000 L / min. After the culture was completed, the medium was left to cool for 4 hours, and the supernatant was removed from the top of the tank, yielding the agglomerated and settled bacterial cells at the bottom of the tank. Next, the bacterial cells were washed, toluene was added and mixed, then 0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) was added and stirred until homogenized. The container was then sealed and left at 30°C for 15 hours to allow autolysis.

[0030] The digested fluid was centrifuged, and an equal volume of cold acetone was added to the supernatant, which was left to stand overnight. The resulting precipitate was collected by centrifugation and dissolved in tap water to obtain an enzyme solution. While cooling this pre-concentration enzyme solution to 4°C, ammonium sulfate powder was gradually added over 60 minutes to obtain a 50% saturated aqueous solution. This aqueous solution was left to stand at 4°C for 80 hours to precipitate the lactase, and then solid-liquid separation was performed by filtration to recover the solid lactase. The lactase was redissolved in tap water and then ultraconcentrated. Desalted water was added to the desalted lactase to neutralize the pH to 7.5, and then ammonium sulfate was added to a final concentration of 1M to obtain the desalted sample.

[0031] The desalted sample was applied to a 20 ml HiPrep phenyl 16 / 10 column with a diameter of 16 mm, a length of 10 cm, and a linear flow rate of 150 cm / h. The column was equilibrated with 1 M ammonium sulfate in 100 mM Tris at pH 7.5. After packing the column, it was washed with equilibrium buffer at a flow rate of 150 cm / h until the baseline was reached. Lactase elution was performed under a stepwise gradient at 150 cm / h (100 mM Tris, pH 7.5). After lactase elution, the lactase solution was desalted and concentrated. As a guideline for concentration, desalting was carried out until the electrical conductivity was 0.2 S / m or less. At this point, the salt concentration corresponds to approximately 0.1 mass% in terms of sodium chloride. This was the lactase concentrate.

[0032] [Comparative Example 1] The lactase concentrate obtained in Production Example 1 was diluted with water to a solid content of 10.4% by mass. It was then powdered by spray drying. A SPRAY DRYER DL-41 (manufactured by YAMATO SCIENTIFIC) was used. During drying, the inlet temperature was set to 135°C and the outlet temperature to 70-75°C, and spraying was performed at a processing speed of 1-4 ml / min.

[0033] [Examples 1-4] A salt solution was prepared by dissolving 27.0 g of potassium chloride and 20.0 g of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate in water, adjusting the pH to 7.86, and then adding water to a total of 200 g. The lactase concentrate obtained in Production Example 1 was mixed with the above salt solution as shown in Table 1, and then water was added to obtain a solid content of 10-30% by mass, and the mixture was powdered in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1.

[0034] [Examples 5-10] The lactase concentrate obtained in Production Example 1 was added with a salt solution in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 4. Then, trehalose, maltodextrin, or soluble dietary fiber was added and dissolved, and after that, water was added so that the solid content was 10 to 30% by mass, and the mixture was powdered by spray drying.

[0035] (Activity measurement of lactase concentrate) The activity of lactase powder was measured, for example, as follows: o-nitrophenol, generated from the substrate o-nitrophenyl-β-galactopyranoside (ONPG), was measured by colorimetric method. The sample solution was prepared by diluting the lactase concentrate with 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.50) containing 0.1 mM manganese chloride. Specifically, 0.5 g of lactase concentrate was diluted with manganese chloride-containing potassium phosphate buffer to a volume of 100 ml. Then, 0.5 ml of the lactase solution was diluted with manganese chloride-containing potassium phosphate buffer to a volume of 100 ml. In this case, the dilution ratio is 100 / 0.5 * 100 / 0.5 = 40,000 times. 0.5 mL of 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.50) containing 0.1 mM manganese chloride and 0.5 mL of the sample solution (enzyme-containing solution) were added to a test tube and mixed, then allowed to stand in a 37°C water bath for 3 minutes. 1 mL of 3.32 mM ONPG solution was added to start the reaction, and the mixture was reacted at 37°C for 1 minute. After the reaction, 2 mL of 0.2 M sodium carbonate solution was added as a reaction stop solution to stop the reaction. A blank was prepared by adding the reaction stop solution before adding the substrate solution. The absorbance at a wavelength of 420 nm was measured using a spectrophotometer. Under these conditions, the amount of enzyme required to increase the absorbance at a wavelength of 420 nm by 1 unit every 10 minutes was defined as 1 ONPG U (o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside Unit). The activity value was calculated using the following formula. Lactase activity (ONPG U / g) = (AA blank ) × Dilution ratio × 10

[0036] [Table 1]

[0037] (Activity measurement of lactase powder) The activity of lactase powder was measured, for example, as follows: o-nitrophenol, generated from the substrate o-nitrophenyl-β-galactopyranoside (ONPG), was measured by colorimetric method. The sample solution was prepared by dissolving lactase powder in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.50) containing 0.1 mM manganese chloride, and then diluting it to an appropriate dilution ratio. Specifically, 0.04 g of lactase powder was dissolved in potassium phosphate buffer containing manganese chloride to a total volume of 100 ml. Then, potassium phosphate buffer containing manganese chloride was added to 0.5 ml of the lactase solution to make a total volume of 100 ml. In this case, the dilution ratio is 100 / 0.04 * 100 / 0.5 = 500,000 times. 0.5 mL of 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.50) containing 0.1 mM manganese chloride and 0.5 mL of the sample solution (enzyme-containing solution) were added to a test tube and mixed, then allowed to stand in a 37°C water bath for 3 minutes. 1 mL of 3.32 mM ONPG solution was added to start the reaction, and the mixture was allowed to react at 37°C for 1 minute. After the reaction, 2 mL of 0.2 M sodium carbonate solution was added as a stop solution to stop the reaction. A blank was prepared by adding the reaction stop solution before adding the substrate solution. The absorbance at a wavelength of 420 nm was measured using a spectrophotometer. Under these conditions, the amount of enzyme required to increase the absorbance at a wavelength of 420 nm by 1 unit every 10 minutes was defined as 1 ONPG U (o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside Unit). The activity value was calculated using the following formula. Lactase activity (ONPG U / g) = (AA blank ) × Dilution ratio × 10

[0038] [result] The results for Comparative Example 1 and Examples 1-10 are shown in Table 2. [Table 2]

[0039] As shown in Table 1 above, compared to Comparative Example 1, in which lactase concentrate was spray-dried without any additives, Examples 1-4, in which salt was added to achieve various salt concentrations, showed improved activity yield. Examples 5-8, in which trehalose was added as an excipient in addition to salt, showed even greater improvement in activity yield. Examples 9-10, in which maltodextrin and soluble dietary fiber were used as excipients, also showed better activity yield than Examples 1-4, in which only salt was added.

Claims

1. Lactase powder containing lactase and salt, wherein the salt, when dissolved in water, is contained within a pH range of 5 to 9, and the amount of salt per gram of lactase powder is 0.003 g or more and 0.38 g or less.

2. The lactase powder according to claim 1, wherein the salt is 0.03 g or more and 0.2 g or less.

3. The lactase powder according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the salt is at least one of a phosphate salt or a chloride salt.

4. The lactase powder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the phosphate is potassium phosphate and the chloride salt is potassium chloride.

5. Lactase powder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising maltodextrin or trehalose.

6. The lactase powder according to claim 5, wherein the content of maltodextrin, soluble dietary fiber, or trehalose is 0.01 g or more per 1 g of the lactase powder.

7. The lactase powder according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lactase is lactase produced by Kluyveromyces lactis.

8. A method for producing lactase powder according to claims 1 to 7, comprising mixing lactase with a buffer solution containing salt and spray drying.

9. A method for producing food or beverages, comprising the step of adding lactase powder according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to food or beverage ingredients containing lactose.

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