Antinutritional factor
Encyclopedia
Anti-nutritional factors are natural or synthetic substances found in the human diet or animal feed that have the potential to adversely affect health and growth by preventing the absorption of nutrients from food.
Lipase Inhibitors interfere with enzymes such as Human Pancreatic Lipase that catalyze the hydrolysis of lipids. Lipase inhibitors have been approved and commercials sold in many diet pills because they cause a percentage of fat to pass through the digestive tract undigested.
Amylase Inhibitors prevent the action of enzymes that break the glycosidic bonds of starches and other complex carbohydrates, preventing the release of simple sugars and absorption by the body. Amylase inhibitors, like lipase inhibitors, have been used as a diet aide and obesity treatment. Amylase inhibitors are present in many types of beans; commercially available amylase inhibitors are extracted from white kidney beans.
Phytic acid
has a strong binding affinity to minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc; this results in precipitation, making the minerals unavailable for absorption in the intestines. Phytic acids are common in the hulls of nuts, seeds and grains.
Glucosinolates prevent the uptake of iodine, affecting the function of the thyroid and thus are considered goitrogens. They are found in broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.
Excessive intake of required nutrients can also result in them having an anti-nutrient action. Excessive intake of fiber
can reduce the transit time through the intestines to such a degree that other nutrients cannot be absorbed. Because calcium
, iron
, zinc
and magnesium
share the same transporter within the intestine excessive consumption of one of these minerals can lead to saturation of the transport system and reduced absorption of the other minerals .
Classes of Anti-nutrients
Protease Inhibitors are substances that inhibit the actions of trypsin, pepsin and other proteases in the gut, preventing the digestion and subsequent absorption of protein. Bowman-Birk Trypsin Inhibitor found in soybeans.Lipase Inhibitors interfere with enzymes such as Human Pancreatic Lipase that catalyze the hydrolysis of lipids. Lipase inhibitors have been approved and commercials sold in many diet pills because they cause a percentage of fat to pass through the digestive tract undigested.
Amylase Inhibitors prevent the action of enzymes that break the glycosidic bonds of starches and other complex carbohydrates, preventing the release of simple sugars and absorption by the body. Amylase inhibitors, like lipase inhibitors, have been used as a diet aide and obesity treatment. Amylase inhibitors are present in many types of beans; commercially available amylase inhibitors are extracted from white kidney beans.
Phytic acid
Phytic acid
Phytic acid is the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues, especially bran and seeds. Phytate is not digestible to humans or nonruminant animals, however, so it is not a source of either inositol or phosphate if eaten directly...
has a strong binding affinity to minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc; this results in precipitation, making the minerals unavailable for absorption in the intestines. Phytic acids are common in the hulls of nuts, seeds and grains.
Glucosinolates prevent the uptake of iodine, affecting the function of the thyroid and thus are considered goitrogens. They are found in broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.
Excessive intake of required nutrients can also result in them having an anti-nutrient action. Excessive intake of fiber
Fiber
Fiber is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread.They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together....
can reduce the transit time through the intestines to such a degree that other nutrients cannot be absorbed. Because calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
, iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
and magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
share the same transporter within the intestine excessive consumption of one of these minerals can lead to saturation of the transport system and reduced absorption of the other minerals .