Assessment of Phytic Acid Levels in Some Local Cereal Grains in Two Districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2009.1540.1547Keywords:
Cereals, inorganic phosphorus, phytic acid, total phosphorus, trace metalsAbstract
Phytic acid levels of sorghum, pearl millet from two districts, Kasena-Nankana and Talensi-Nabdam and rice from Kasena-Nankana in the Upper East Region were analyzed together with some selected trace elements. This paper seeks to assess the phytic acid content of some cereals commonly consumed in the northern part of Ghana. Results indicated that phytic acid levels of the cereals were below that of dormant seeds. Trace element concentrations were significantly high. The cereals had high concentrations of total and phytic acid phosphorus which varied among them but they were generally low. The highest level of phytic acid was observed in pearl millet from Talensi-Nabdam District which suggested external sources of phosphorus or variation in soil types accounted for this difference. There was high correlation between phytic acid and two trace metals- Fe and Zn respectively in pearl millet in the two districts while no such correlation was observed with sorghum and rice. The low phytic acid level suggested that it will have little influence on the trace metals levels in such cereals and human nutrition.
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