The interaction of phytate with minerals and other dietary
nutrients is pH-dependent. In the human body, food
digesta pass from low pH in the stomach to neutral pH, prevailing
in the upper small intestine. During digesta movement, dietary
phytate-mineral complexes may dissociate and may form other
complexes through the gastrointestinal tract. In the upper part of
the small intestine, which is characterised by maximum mineral
absorption, the insoluble complexes are highly unlikely to provide
absorbable essential elements. Thereby, the chemical interactions
of phytate in the upper gastrointestinal tract are of particular concern since the site and degree of phytate degradation can affect the
nutritional value of a phytate-rich diet. However, the form in
which many minerals occur in foodstuffs and in the gut is largely
unknown. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the specific interactions of phytate in the GI tract and the nutritional implications of
these interactions. To date, little attention has been paid to the
understanding of the in situ interaction of phytate with nutrients
and minerals in the gastrointestinal tract of human.