What essential minerals does phytic acid readily chelate in the small intestine?
Answer
Iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium
Phytic acid, also known as phytate, functions as a primary storage form of phosphorus in many plant foods. Its structure allows it to readily bind to essential divalent (like zinc and calcium) and trivalent cations (like iron) within the digestive tract. When phytic acid chelates these minerals, it forms stable complexes that the human body is incapable of easily breaking down or absorbing through the small intestine wall. This binding capacity is significant, potentially causing substantial drops in mineral absorption rates; for instance, phytate can inhibit iron absorption by as much as 60% when present in high concentrations alongside these minerals in a meal.
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