ABSTRACT
THIS chapter considers phytate more from the perspective of what plantsdeposit into the crop seeds/grains/fruits that we use than from the human and animal nutrition perspective. We provide a synopsis of the results of a global survey by Lott et al. [1] of the phosphorus (P) and phytic acid (PA) deposited each year in the world’s major seed/grain/fruit crops, correct an error in those data, and extend the data to give information nutritional scientists can access more easily. It is important to point out that the beneficial and problematic aspects of phytic acid extend beyond animal nutrition aspects. Phytates, which are consumed in food by humans, swine, poultry, and other monogastric animals, often end up contributing to the eutrophication of our lakes and rivers through deposition of P-containing waste products [2]. The manure disposal problems associated with intensive animal farming operations are now widely recognized [3]. When animals are fed on grains/seeds, most of the total P consumed is PA-P, and thus, a large amount of the P in manure must be from phytate phosphorus that was not absorbed by the farm animals [4,5].
