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Phytate hydrolysis by germfree and conventional rats
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|April 1, 1982
Summary
Bacteria, not enzymes, break down phytic acid in the gut. This study found significant phytic acid hydrolysis in conventional rats but negligible amounts in germfree rats, confirming microbial action.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Phytic acid, a plant-derived compound, inhibits dietary mineral absorption.
- The source of phytate hydrolysis in the gastrointestinal tract remains debated, with theories pointing to bacterial or host mucosal enzymes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of bacteria versus endogenous enzymes in dietary phytic acid hydrolysis.
- To resolve the controversy regarding the primary mechanism of phytate breakdown in the gut.
Main Methods:
- Comparing phytic acid hydrolysis in germfree and conventional rats.
- Utilizing diets with varying calcium content to assess hydrolysis rates.
Main Results:
- Germfree rats exhibited negligible phytic acid hydrolysis, indicating a lack of microbial contribution.
- Conventional rats showed significant hydrolysis: 22% with high-calcium and 56% with low-calcium diets.
- Hydrolysis rates correlated with the presence of gut microbiota.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial activity is the primary driver of dietary phytic acid hydrolysis in the rat gut.
- The contribution of endogenous mucosal enzymes to phytate breakdown is minimal.