|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Phytate
A chemical complex (large molecule) substance [inositol hexaphosphate] that is the dominant (i.e., 60% to 80%) chemical form of phosphorus present within cereal grains, oilseeds, and their byproducts. Monogastric animals (e.g., swine, poultry) cannot digest and utilize the phosphorous within phytate, because they lack the enzyme known as phytase in their digestive system; so that phosphorus (phytate) is excreted into the environment. When phytase enzyme is present in the ration of a monogastric animal, at a high enough level, the monogastric animal is then able to digest the phytate (thereby "releasing" most of that phosphorus for absorption by the body of the animal). However, the (cleaved-off, "free" inositol) that was "liberated" from (six phosphate atoms per molecule of phytate) than can quickly chelate (i.e., 'combine' with) other minerals in the feed ration (e.g., iron, calcium, zinc, etc.). Thus, low-phytate crop varieties (i.e., containing inherently smaller amounts of inositol) are less likely to chelate important dietary minerals such as iron (which can exacerbate malnutrition in typically iron-poor diets such as in developing countries where adequate iron content/iron fortification of human diets is not common).
In adult humans (e.g., those past childbearing age), the chelating ('combining'-with) property of the phytate-source inositol causes it to act as a beneficial antioxidant in the human body; which can help to protect against certain cancers (e.g., prostate cancer).
|
|
The term "Phytate" also appears in the definition(s) of the following term(s): Phytase Low-phytate Corn Low-phytate Soybeans Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) |
| preface | about the author | order the book | knowledge center | search |
|
Contact Us |