In a recent study published in the journal Nature Microbiology , researchers investigated how the human gut bacteria metabolize dietary phytate. Phytate is abundant in the plant kingdom, especially rice, wheat, and nuts. Due to its metal-chelating properties, it is recognized as an antinutrient in animal feed.
However, there is no evidence that phytate might cause problems in humans. Conversely, plant-based diets, including phytate-rich seeds and nuts, have health benefits. Study: Phytate metabolism is mediated by microbial cross-feeding in the gut microbiota .
Image Credit: Manee_Meena / Shutterstock Dietary phytate supplementation has been shown to promote epithelial repair, improve glucose metabolism, and reduce inflammation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are elusive. Phytate is involved in insulin signaling, glucose metabolism, cancer metastasis, and cell migration.
It is synthesized during intracellular myoinositol metabolism and is among the most abundant inositol phosphates (InsPs) in mammals. However, it is unclear whether dietary phytate could enter the systemic circulation and contribute to endogenous inositol polyphosphate biosynthesis. Previously, the authors reported the conversion of phytate into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by the human gut microbiome, but the gut microbes responsible for conversion were unknown.
In the present study, researchers evaluated the metabolism of dietary phytate by the human gut microbiota. First, they incubated fec.
