Which antinutrient is cited as the most significant mineral absorption blocker due to its phosphorus storage role?
Answer
Phytic Acid
Phytic acid, also known as phytate, is frequently regarded as the most influential compound regarding mineral bioavailability interference. This is because it functions as the primary storage form of phosphorus in many seeds, grains, and legumes. Chemically, phytic acid possesses a high affinity for essential divalent and trivalent cations. It readily binds to minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium, creating insoluble complexes within the digestive tract that effectively block the body's ability to absorb these crucial nutrients.
Related Questions
What primary role do antinutrients serve for plants like those containing Phytates or Lectins?Which antinutrient is cited as the most significant mineral absorption blocker due to its phosphorus storage role?What mineral does Oxalic Acid primarily bind, making it unavailable for absorption in leafy greens like spinach?Which foods are primarily cited as the source of Lectins, requiring proper cooking to neutralize them?What preparation method is most effective for leaching water-soluble Oxalates from vegetables like spinach?What natural enzyme is activated by soaking that begins to break down Phytic Acid in nuts, seeds, and grains?Why is Gluten, a protein in wheat, barley, and rye, sometimes categorized as an antinutrient?Besides iron, which minerals does Phytic Acid form insoluble complexes with, blocking absorption?What critical safety instruction must be followed when cooking dried beans to effectively destroy Lectins?What practical adjustment can boost non-heme iron absorption alongside iron-containing plant foods, overriding phytate effects?Where are Phytic Acid concentrations significantly higher compared to refined white flour?