Phytate, found in bran, seeds, and nuts, stores phosphorus in plants and is not bioavailable to non-ruminant animals. Humans should limit intake due to its antinutrient properties, but it also has antioxidant and cancer-fighting benefits. Phytate is used in industrial and medical applications.
Phytate is the salt form of phytic acid. It is also known as inositol hexakisphosphate or IP6. This acid is responsible for the storage of phosphorus in plant tissues. The most common sources of phytate are bran, seeds, and nuts. Wheat bran, for example, contains 3% phytic acid.
Phytate-bound phosphorus is usually not bioavailable to any non-ruminant animal. Ruminant animals, such as cows and sheep, chew, swallow, and then regurgitate their food. This regurgitated food is known as cud and is chewed a second time. Due to an enzyme located in their first stomach chamber, the rumen, these animals are able to separate and process phosphorus into phytates. Humans and other non-ruminant animals cannot.
Humans should limit their intake of phytate as it has several properties that can be harmful to the body. First, phytic acid strongly chelates minerals needed by the body, such as calcium, iron, and zinc. The chelation process creates a bond between the acid and the mineral, rendering it insoluble and therefore useless. Second, phytic acid binds with the basic vitamin niacin, causing a condition known as pellagra. This has earned it the status of an antinutrient, as it interferes with the uptake and uptake of nutrients required by the body.
The amount present in grains and nuts can be reduced by cooking, although even greater effects are seen if foods are allowed to soak in an acidic environment or sprout naturally. It is especially important that the amount of phytate intake is limited in young children, or in those who receive most of their mineral supply from foods such as wheat or grains. This may include vegetarians or those living in developing countries where other food sources may be in short supply.
Despite its potentially harmful effects, studies have shown several beneficial results from phytate consumption. The first is that phytate acts as an antioxidant, preventing the creation of free radicals that can damage cells. Second, phytate’s mineral binding properties allow it to fight colon cancer by reducing oxidative stress in the intestinal tract. Phytic acid has been shown to protect against Parkinson’s disease in an in vitro setting. It is also used as a food preservative.
This acid is also used in industrial applications, such as soil remediation. for example, it can be used to immobilize inorganic contaminants, such as uranium or nickel. It is also used medically, as a chelation treatment for uranium removal.
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