Phytate suppression

The occupation of all available coordination sites by phytate suppresses other iron-mediated processes, such as lipid peroxidation ( 0). Figure 6 demonstrates that 0.24 mM phytate prevents the peroxidation of arachidonic acid driven by ascorbic acid and iron, whereas substantial amounts of malondialdehyde arise in the presence of free iron or of an iron-ADP chelate. 

Graf, E. and Eaton, J.W. (1985). Dietary suppression of colonic cancer. Fiber or phytate. Cancer 56, 717-718. 

By virtue of rendering iron catalytically inactive, dietary phytate may also suppress the incidence of colonic cancer (J2j>). Intestinal aerobic bacteria and/or minor inflammatory events generate substantial amounts of O27 leading to OH formation and lipid peroxidation. These two processes are thought to be important elements in tissue injury which occurs during inflammation. This argument is compatible with the observation that colonic cancer is frequently preceded, or accompanied, by pigmentation of the colonic epithelium lipofuscin, a byproduct of lipid... 

Gastrointestinal absorption, and subsequent utilization and retention by the body, of essential trace elements such as zinc, copper, and selenium can also be enhanced or diminished by the presence or absence of other trace elements and chemicals in the diet (WHO, 1996). For example, cadmium and lead absorption is enhanced when dietetic intake of calcium, iron, and phosphate is low. Phytate, an organic phosphate that is abundant in diets high in unrefined grains, especially when accompanied by high dietetic calcium, helps suppress the uptake of potentially toxic elements such as lead and cadmium, but also inhibits the uptake of essential zinc (WHO, 1996). 

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