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Effect of dietary level of phytic acid on hepatic and serum lipid status in rats fed a high-sucrose diet.

Phytic acid is often considered as an anti-nutritient because it forms insoluble complexes with minerals such as zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron. Phytic acid has a structure similar to that of myo-inositol, which has been demonstrated to reduce hepatic lipid levels.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of phytic acid on the hepatic and serum lipid status of rats fed a high sucrose diet. The rats were divided in 7 groups: 1 control group and 6 groups fed with different levels of phytic acid (0.02% to 10% sodium phytate). The addition of 5 to 10 percent phytic acid resulted in a very depressed growth and food intake. These levels are very high compared to the 0.035 percent phytic acid in the Western diet. Hepatic levels of triglyceride and cholesterol and lipogenic enzymes activity were reduced with increasing dietary phytate level. The addition of 10% sodium phytate drastically depressed growth, food intake, and serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels. The lower level of phytic acid (0.013%) significantly reduced hepatic serum levels of lipids and triglycerides. Intake of phytic acid resulted in reduced hepatic cholesterol concentrations, increased fatty acid synthetase and reduced hepatic malic enzyme activity. Serum lipid levels were not much influenced by phytic acid intake.

The study concluded that dietary intake of phytic acid at a level of 0.035 percent may protect against a fatty liver resulting from elevated hepatic lipogenesis, and that the anti-nutrient effect of phytic acid on mineral absorption will only occur at 10 fold higher levels. The researchers even speculated that phytic acid may be considered more like a vitamin than an anti-nutrient.


Source: Onomi S, Okazaki Y and Katayama T. Effect of dietary level of phytic acid on hepatic and serum lipid status in rats fed a high-sucrose diet.. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2004 Jun;68(6):1379-81


 
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