PHYTIC ACID INTAKE AND ITS EFFECT ON THE BIOAVAILABILITY OF ZINC IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN / 营养学报

Phytic acid intake of preschool children was measured with modified ion exchange method. Zinc bioavailability was assessed by metabolic balance experiment and phytic acid/zinc molar ratio was calculated.The average intake of phytic acid in the diet was 499mg/day. The average of phytic acid/zinc molar ratio was 6.66. Even the subjects ingested foods rich in phytic acid, the phytic acid/zinc molar ratio (10.6) still remained at the lower limit of the critical value (10-20), that will inhibit zinc bioavailability. Metabolic balance study indicated that zinc bioavailability was not inhibited.Therefore, the phytic acid in present Chinese diet is unlikely a factor of zinc deficiency among children.