Phytic Acid

Phytic acid, a cyclic compound (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis dihydrogen phosphate myoinositol) is a common storage form of phosphorus in seeds and is also considered as an antinutritional factor. Phytic acid, as a result of possessing negative charge at a wide range of pH values, has strong affi nity to bind metal ions such as with calcium, zinc, and iron (Fig. 1) . This leads to interference in the absorption of these minerals from small intestine and adversely affects various metabolic processes. In addition, phytic acid is also known to complex with proteins and starch, resulting in reduced digestibility of these nutrients. The phosphorus in phytic acid is not nutritionally available to monogastric animals. Nonetheless, non-antinutritive concentration of phytic acid in dietary sources is recently considered to be a potential antioxidant. Reduction in ironinduced oxidative injury and reversal in initiation of colorectal tumorigenesis have also been observed. Phytic acid has recently been suggested to have a protective role in carcinogenesis.