Phytic Acid: Properties, Uses, Determination, Nutritional Effects and Impact in a Plant-Based Diet

Book chapter, 2026

Phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate, InsP₆) is the principal storage form of phosphorus, inositol, and metal cations in plant-based foods, where it occurs mainly as metal–phytate complexes. At intestinal pH, phytate is highly deprotonated and strongly binds divalent metals, and the formation of large aggregates may reduce their bioavailability. Quantification of inositol phosphates is commonly performed using chromatographic methods, including ion-pair HPLC, high-performance ion exchange chromatography, and mass spectrometry, enabling separation of individual phosphate species. Phytate is a major inhibitor of metal absorption, and increasing reliance on plant-based diets indicates the need to consider metal bioavailability in nutritional interventions.