Talk:Phytic acid
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[edit] Nut butter
does anybody know about phytic acid in nut butter? Are the almonds in almond butter soaked to release the acid before the butter is made? -Unknown
[edit] Nut and legume soaking
I have it by hearsay that nuts aren't soaked before making butter, they may be roasted, but roasting probably doesn't decrease phytic acid content. Also, soaking, as I have it by hearsay, only reduces phytic acid content by about 10%. Rhodescus 21:40, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
- This is a relevant concern (you probably read the Mercola/Chek article judging by the date). I've added stuff to the food science article to reflect the inquiries into these new issues. Hopefully they can be further amended to be less skittishly worded (I'm not that good) while retaining the concerns. Tyciol 02:06, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
They are not soaked before roasting and do have phytic acid that remains after cooking. Nuts are less of a concern to food scientists I assume because they do not tend to make up the majority of a person's diet as grains and legumes can.
[edit] Phytic Acid and E-number
I noticed that the e-number E391 isn't present on the wikipedia page for e-numbers. I tried doing a search for "e391 phytic acid" on google, and didn't get much except endless reiterations of wikipedia's page in the first three pages of results. Is the e-number reference out of date, or is the reference in this article out-of-date?
I know there is some controversy about safe levels of phytic acid consumption, and health problems in livestock and pets attributed to mineral deficiencies brought on by high levels of phytic acid consumption from soybean-derived feeds.
According to turtlestuff.com: "PHYTIC ACID: Phosphorus as stored in plants. Phytic acid inhibits the uptake of calcium and can cause problems with Metabolic Bone Disease, renal failure, shell pyramiding and bladder stones." pictures, all copyrighted material.
- "Unless there is high phytic acid content in the forage or supplemental feed of a small ruminant it is not likely to suffer from zinc deficiency which is characterized by unthrifty hair and broken scaly skin especially around the hoof." -Bioline
- "Intestinal fermentation lessens the inhibitory effects of phytic acid on mineral utilization in rats." is one of the many not-so-recent articles expanding on the interaction between intestinal flora in non-ruminants and phytic acid. Nutrition.org/NIH
- "Many plants contain toxic materials or compounds that have an antinutritive effect, such as protease inhibitors, phytohaemoglutinins, gossypol, tannins, phytic acid..." -(Tacon, 1997)
It seems the consensus in the research on phytic acid, is that ruminants and non-ruminants are both ok with small amounts of phytic acid in the diet, but large amount are "anti-nutritive". Some animals are more susceptible, and some aren't (some ruminants).
- "Phytate commonly binds Zn in plant sources of Zn and greatly diminishes the availability of
Zn for absorption in monogastric and pre-ruminant animals. However, rumen microbes metabolize most of the dietary phytate so it is not a factor affecting Zn absorption in ruminating animals. Others remain unidentified. " "
- "Hence, phytic acid, in large amounts, can block the uptake of essential minerals, like calcium, magnesium, copper, iron - and especially zinc - in the intestinal tract. Soy also inhibits the uptake of one of the most important minerals needed for growth and metabolism, iodine, which is used by the thyroid gland in the production of thyroid hormones.
However, for non-vegetarian men, phytic acid may prove to be quite helpful, due to its binding/chelating ability with minerals. Since a large percentage of non-vegetarian adult males have excess iron, phytic acid would be helpful to them by binding the excess iron. But we need to bear in mind phytic acid will simultaneously bind other minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and zinc. In the case of children and menstruating women, the phytic acid in soy can be a serious negative, as women and children need iron. In women, iron is needed to replace the loss during their menses and in children iron is required for growth and development." -HealthDimensions
From the article: "Phytic acid has no known toxicity and is not known to cause mutagenic activity. It may have more therapuetic value when added to water rather than when naturally absorbed in foods as it is difficult to free from fiber." - there are no references here.
"Toxicity test :LD50 4.793g/Kg" - PeakChem As referenced above, phytic acid and is commonly considered as anti-nutritive.
Phytic acid, in brans (insoluble fibers) appears to effect a decrease in colon cancers - 1 reference:
- "Phytic acid in wheat bran affects colon morphology, cell differentiation and apoptosis" - OxfordJournals
- "In conclusion, our results have shown that WB, due both to its dietary fiber and endogenous PA component, and pure PA added to a low fiber diet can significantly increase the rate of apoptosis and degree of differentiation in the distal colon. They can also have favorable effects on colon morphology, reducing crypt cell height and crypt density. These results, coupled with the previously observed reductions in ACF and cell proliferation (1), show that WB, its fiber and PA can affect early events in colon carcinogenesis. However, the exact mechanisms of that modulation need further elaboration." - wheat bran (WB) and/or phytic acid (PA) inhibit colon cancer - OxfordJournals
In conclusion, this article seems biased and, overall, doesn't match even two hours worth of web research. The article delves into the health benefits, excusing the anti-nutritive effect of phytic acid, is not up to date with regard to natural sources of phytic acid, doesn't recognize the dietary difference between moderate sources and dense sources and contradicts the standing literature on dietary availability of nutrients in non-ruminant guts with adequate fermenting bacteria.
Throwing in a plug for soybeans at the end, nice. Research says phytic acid is dangerous in high quantities, leads to organ dysfunction due to chronic nutrient deficiency and has protective effects which are no greater than those given by wheat bran. Ugh, I lost track of where I was going. Hope this is helpful. -Rhodescus 21:40, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Editing needs
I may edit this page at some point, but I realize I need a lot more references, so it will have to wait. I've state my major concerns above, if the page is going to promote the food science of phytic acid, it should do so fairly, without looking like a promotion of phytic acid as an anti-cancer wonder drug. Also, not enough weight is given to the anti-nutritive effects of phytic acid, in both the food science section and the paragraph dealing with ruminants.
It would also be nice to see some references for the environmental effects, and a blurb about the development of strains of low-phytic-acid feedstocks (there's a 2000 patent, and advertising, so I think the page is out-of-date.)
I also want to put in some more notes and references about the anti-nutritive effects of phytic acid, and perhaps some notes and references about asian dietary habits (along with minimal consumption of unfermented soy) which tend to minimize the anti-nutritive effects of phytic acid. It is a very large topic! -Rhodescus 18:18, 5 February 2007 (UTC)
- Agreed, sourcing is a difficult thing, but at the very least we can examine the concerns and inquiries in health culture, and then with sourcing either add support or negation to them. It's notable to address myths regarding substances, both positive and negative. Tyciol 02:08, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
I linked to Reddy, et al., 1989. Phytates in Cereals and Legumes ISBN: 9780849361081 which is a very good general reference on phytates in food. A newer book "Food Phytates" covers some of the newer issues like the antioxidant effects. Both are literature review academic texts. More consumer-oriented are two pages I have that may not be appropriate for Wikipedia, but here they are if you all want to include them as additional resources. Legumes: http://www.rebuild-from-depression.com/simplechange/simplechange/simplechange/beans.html Grains: http://www.rebuild-from-depression.com/simplechange/simplechange/simplechange/porridges.html Wikipedia is not keeping me logged in. Strange.
