Phytic acid, a chemical substance found naturally in plants, stores phosphate, the salt form of the nutrient phosphorus, as a source of energy for the plant. Plant seeds accumulate phytic acid during development until it accounts for between 60 and 90 percent of the total phosphorus content, according to information published in the March 2008 issue of the "Journal of Zhejiang University Science." Phytic acid can inhibit the absorption of minerals such as calcium and zinc, but also serves positive functions, such as protecting cells from damage, decreasing cholesterol levels and delaying the absorption of glucose, which might provide benefits for those with diabetes.
Diabetes
The term "diabetes" describes a group of diseases that affect how your body utilizes glucose -- the simple form of sugar that supplies energy to the cells. Your body converts the food you eat into glucose, which enters the bloodstream to travel to the cells throughout the body. As your blood glucose level rises, your body produces a hormone known as insulin, which allows the cells to absorb the glucose from the blood and use it as energy. Doctors diagnose diabetes when your blood consistently contains too much glucose.
Significance
About 1.9 million Americans ages 20 or older were newly diagnosed with diabetes, the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, in 2010, with an estimated 79 million adults suffering from pre-diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Because pre-diabetes, a condition of higher-than-normal glucose levels, can be controlled through diet, scientists focused their research on foods that might help control glucose levels. Phytic acid, which exists in grains, legumes, seeds and nuts, produces biological effects in your body and became the center of a study on the effects on diabetes published in the February 2006 issue of "Nutrition Research."
Study Results
In the study published in "Nutrition Research," supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, scientists administered various levels of phytate, the salt form of phytic acid, to diabetic mice. The mice were then injected with glucose, and scientists took blood samples to determine blood glucose levels. The study found that mice treated with phytate showed a significant decrease in blood glucose levels as soon as 30 minutes following the administration of a large amount of glucose. This suggests that mice given phytate better tolerated the glucose.
Application
Controlling your blood glucose levels is important for maintaining a healthy weight and reducing your risk for diabetes. The study conducted in the diabetic mouse model concluded that phytic acid shows clinical importance in reducing blood glucose levels. Additional studies need to be conducted to determine the effects in humans. The Mayo Clinic reports that eating certain foods, including flaxseed, can help you control your blood sugar levels. Flaxseed serves as a rich source of phytic acid, according to information provided by the website Phytochemicals.
References
- "Journal Zhejiang University Science"; "Phytate: Impact on Environment and Human Nutrition"; Bohn et al; March 2008
- "Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutrition Physiology"; "Nutritional Significance of Phytic acid and Phytase"; Pallauf et al; 1997
- "Nutrition Research"; "Dietary Phytic Acid Lowers Blood Glucose Level in Diabetic KK Mice"; Lee et al; February 2006
- Mayoclinic.com; "Diabetes"; March 2011
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; "National Diabetes Statistics 2011"; February 2011
- Phytochemicals: Phytic Acid
