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Determination of Phytic Acid in Juices and Milks by Developing a Quick Complexometric-Titration Method

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Abstract

Phytic acid is a compound regularly found in plant-based food and beverages. Although it may provide some health benefits to human body, it is commonly defined as an antinutrient that reduces the availability of nutrients. Analytical methods were reported in literature for measuring phytic acid in cereals, which cannot be applied to liquid samples directly. A simple and quick complexometric-titration method specialized for determination of phytic acid in liquid samples was developed. Phytic acid was indirectly measured through a complex formation titration with ferric ions and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The new analytical method had a detection limit of 12 mg/L and was applied to various beverages including juices and milks. Phytic acids were found in all samples obtained in a local grocery store. Juices showed higher phytic acid content than milks. At 5.35 g/L, soy sauce had the highest level of phytic acid. Although the lowest concentration was detected in cow milk at 328 mg/L, phytic acid may still be a concern due to high-volume consumption of milk.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from Acadia University and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). In addition, the authors would like to thank E. Guerra-Hernández at the Universityof Granada in Spain for his helpful discussion in the method development.

Compliance with Ethics Requirements

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.

Conflict of Interest

Inés Burgos-Luján declares that she has no conflict of interest. Anthony Tong declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Acadia University, 6 University Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada

    Inés Burgos-Luján & Anthony Z. Tong

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  1. Inés Burgos-Luján
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  2. Anthony Z. Tong
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Correspondence to Anthony Z. Tong.

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Burgos-Luján, I., Tong, A.Z. Determination of Phytic Acid in Juices and Milks by Developing a Quick Complexometric-Titration Method. Food Anal. Methods 8, 1836–1841 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-014-0075-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-014-0075-5

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