Occurrence and distribution of phytic acid and its degradation products in soybeans in China: Analytical challenges

Phytic acid (IP6) and its degradation products lower myo-inositol phosphates exert different impacts on nutrient bioavailability and product quality characteristics. However, information regarding the occurrence of IP6 and its degradation products is scarce. In this work, simultaneous determination of IP6 and its degradation products in soybeans was developed, with emphasis on analysis by UPLC-MS/MS and a BEH Amide column both with hybrid surface technology. The retention and analyte/metal surface interactions issues were effectively addressed without ion-pairing reagents addition or derivatization. This method was applied to analyze soybeans from China. Total contents were 0.44-13.2 mg/g, and IP6 and its degradation product myo-inositol pentakisphosphate (IP5) were the predominant analytes, accounting for over 99%. Accession type significantly affected IP5 content, and landraces had significantly higher IP5 than cultivars. Geographically, the lowest IP6 was concentrated in the Huanghuaihai region. Significant correlations existed between IP6 and longitude, altitude, and annual cumulative sunshine hours. This study provides comprehensive insights into the IP6 and its degradation product profile in soybeans, which will benefit breeding soybeans based on specific requirements.