J Food Bioact

Journal of Food Bioactives, ISSN 2637-8752 print, 2637-8779 online

Journal website www.isnff-jfb.com

Review

Volume 1, March 2018, pages 41-55

Inositol phosphates: health implications, methods of analysis, and occurrence in plant foods

Figure 1.
Chemical structure of myo-inositol.

Figure 2.
Chemical structures of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP₆) or phytic acid.

**Table 1.** Content of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate in the grain/seed of major cereals and legumes
Sample	Taxonomic names	InsP₆ content (µmol/g)*
InsP₆: myo*-inositol hexakisphosphate. ¹Barrier-Guillot et al. 1996^{; 2}Blatny et al. 1995; ³Burbanoet et al. 1995; ⁴Carnovale et al. 1988; ⁵Chen 2004; ⁶de Koning 1994; ⁷Dost and Karaca 2016; ⁸El Tinay et al. 1989; ⁹Ferguson et al. 1988; ¹⁰Fredrikson et al. 2001; ¹¹Harland and Oberleas 1986; ¹²Helfrich and Bettmer 2004; ¹³Hídvégi and Lásztity 2002; ¹⁴Karkle and Beleia 2010; ¹⁵Kasim and Edwards 1998; ¹⁶Lehrfeld 1989; ¹⁷Lestienne et al. 2005a; ¹⁸Lolas et al. 1976; ¹⁹Lott et al. 2000; ²⁰Marfo et al. 1990; ²¹Morris and Hill 1996; ²²Nahapetian and Bassiri 1976; ²³O’Dell et al. 1972; ²⁴Radhakrishnan & Sivaprasad 1980; ²⁵Ravindran et al. 1994; ²⁶Rodehutscord et al. 2016; ²⁷Simonet et al. 2003; ²⁸Simwemba et al. 1984; ²⁹Singh and Sedeh 1979; ³⁰Steiner et al. 2007; ³¹Talamond et al. 2000; ³²Venkatachalam and Sathe 2006; ³³Wang et al. 1959; ³⁴Zdunczyk et al. 1997.
Cereal
Barley	Hordeum vulgare L.	5.7–18.9^{2,13,15,16,18,19,26,30}
Maize	Zea mays L.	3.3–19.5^{2,12,13,15–17,19,20,23,25,26,31}
Millet	Pennisteum spp.	3.6–16.5^17,25,28,31
Oats	Avena sativa L.	6.3–21.5^{6,11,13,15,18,19,26,30}
Rice	Oryza sativa L.	4.7–16.4^{6,17,19,23,25}
Rye	Secale cereale L.	6.6–14.7^16,19,26,30
Sorghum	Sorghum spp.	5.5–19.8^{15–17,19,20,24,25,31,33}
Triticale	x Triticosecale Wittm.	3.5–15.2^{16,19,26,29,29}
Wheat	Triticum spp.	4.9–20.5^{1,13,15,6,18,19,22,23,26,30}
Legume
Chickpeas	Cicer arietinum L.	4.2–19.1^3,8,19,21,27
Common beans	Phaseolus vulgaris L.
Black beans		6.7–14.9^5,21
Kidney beans		7.4–16.1^5,4,9,21,31
Pinto beans		7.8–12.1^5,21,27
Great Northern beans		12.7–13.1^5,21
Navy beans		12.4–12.6^5,21
White beans		7.4–25.8^8,27
Cowpeas	Vigna unguiculata L.	4.4–13.9^{13,17,19–21,31}
Lentils	Lens culinaris Medikus	3.7–15.9^{3,12,19,21,27}
Mung beans	Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek	3.6–5.9^5,17
Peas	Pisum sativum L.	6.5–20.2^13,10,19,34
Peanuts	Arachis hypogaea L.	2.6–10.3^7,19,31,32
Soybeans	Glycine max (L.) Merr.	13.3–28.8^{8,13,14,17–20,31}

Table 1. Content of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate in the grain/seed of major cereals and legumes

Sample

Taxonomic names

InsP₆ content (µmol/g)*

*InsP₆: myo-inositol hexakisphosphate. ¹Barrier-Guillot et al. 1996^{; 2}Blatny et al. 1995; ³Burbanoet et al. 1995; ⁴Carnovale et al. 1988; ⁵Chen 2004; ⁶de Koning 1994; ⁷Dost and Karaca 2016; ⁸El Tinay et al. 1989; ⁹Ferguson et al. 1988; ¹⁰Fredrikson et al. 2001; ¹¹Harland and Oberleas 1986; ¹²Helfrich and Bettmer 2004; ¹³Hídvégi and Lásztity 2002; ¹⁴Karkle and Beleia 2010; ¹⁵Kasim and Edwards 1998; ¹⁶Lehrfeld 1989; ¹⁷Lestienne et al. 2005a; ¹⁸Lolas et al. 1976; ¹⁹Lott et al. 2000; ²⁰Marfo et al. 1990; ²¹Morris and Hill 1996; ²²Nahapetian and Bassiri 1976; ²³O’Dell et al. 1972; ²⁴Radhakrishnan & Sivaprasad 1980; ²⁵Ravindran et al. 1994; ²⁶Rodehutscord et al. 2016; ²⁷Simonet et al. 2003; ²⁸Simwemba et al. 1984; ²⁹Singh and Sedeh 1979; ³⁰Steiner et al. 2007; ³¹Talamond et al. 2000; ³²Venkatachalam and Sathe 2006; ³³Wang et al. 1959; ³⁴Zdunczyk et al. 1997.

Cereal

Barley

Hordeum vulgare L.

5.7–18.9^{2,13,15,16,18,19,26,30}

Maize

Zea mays L.

3.3–19.5^{2,12,13,15–17,19,20,23,25,26,31}

Millet

Pennisteum spp.

3.6–16.5^17,25,28,31

Oats

Avena sativa L.

6.3–21.5^{6,11,13,15,18,19,26,30}

Rice

Oryza sativa L.

4.7–16.4^{6,17,19,23,25}

Rye

Secale cereale L.

6.6–14.7^16,19,26,30

Sorghum

Sorghum spp.

5.5–19.8^{15–17,19,20,24,25,31,33}

Triticale

x Triticosecale Wittm.

3.5–15.2^{16,19,26,29,29}

Wheat

Triticum spp.

4.9–20.5^{1,13,15,6,18,19,22,23,26,30}

Legume

Chickpeas

Cicer arietinum L.

4.2–19.1^3,8,19,21,27

Common beans

Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Black beans

6.7–14.9^5,21

Kidney beans

7.4–16.1^5,4,9,21,31

Pinto beans

7.8–12.1^5,21,27

Great Northern beans

12.7–13.1^5,21

Navy beans

12.4–12.6^5,21

White beans

7.4–25.8^8,27

Cowpeas

Vigna unguiculata L.

4.4–13.9^{13,17,19–21,31}

Lentils

Lens culinaris Medikus

3.7–15.9^{3,12,19,21,27}

Mung beans

Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek

3.6–5.9^5,17

Peas

Pisum sativum L.

6.5–20.2^13,10,19,34

Peanuts

Arachis hypogaea L.

2.6–10.3^7,19,31,32

Soybeans

Glycine max (L.) Merr.

13.3–28.8^{8,13,14,17–20,31}

**Table 2.** Content of *myo-*inositol hexakisphosphate in major tree nuts
Sample	Taxonomic names	InsP₆ content (µmol/g)*
InsP₆: myo*-inositol hexakisphosphate. ¹Chen 2004; ²Dost and Karaca 2016; ³Duong et al. 2017a; ⁴Duong et al. 2017b; ⁵Harland et al. 2004; ⁶Helfrich and Bettmer 2004; ⁷Liu et al. 2009; ⁸Lott et al. 2000; ⁹Simonet et al. 2003; ¹⁰Venkatachalam and Sathe 2006.
Almonds	Prunus dulcis [Mill.] D.A. Webb	5.3–32.0^1,2,4–10
English walnuts	Juglans regia L.	2.7–21.0^1,2,3,5,8,10
Cashews	Anacardium occidentale L.	2.3–29.8^1,3,5,8,10
Brazil nuts	Bertholletia excelsa Humb. & Bonpl.: Lecythidaceae	2.9–27.3^3,8,10
Macadamias	Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche	2.3–14.3^1,3,5,10
Pistachios	Pistachia vera L.	3.0–43.0^3,5,8,10
Pecans	Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch.	1.8–28.9^3,5,10
Hazelnuts	Corylus avellana L.	2.2–35.5^2,3,5-10
Pine nuts	Pinus L.	3.0–11.9^8,10

Table 2. Content of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate in major tree nuts

Sample

Taxonomic names

InsP₆ content (µmol/g)*

*InsP₆: myo-inositol hexakisphosphate. ¹Chen 2004; ²Dost and Karaca 2016; ³Duong et al. 2017a; ⁴Duong et al. 2017b; ⁵Harland et al. 2004; ⁶Helfrich and Bettmer 2004; ⁷Liu et al. 2009; ⁸Lott et al. 2000; ⁹Simonet et al. 2003; ¹⁰Venkatachalam and Sathe 2006.

Almonds

Prunus dulcis [Mill.] D.A. Webb

5.3–32.0^1,2,4–10

English walnuts

Juglans regia L.

2.7–21.0^1,2,3,5,8,10

Cashews

Anacardium occidentale L.

2.3–29.8^1,3,5,8,10

Brazil nuts

Bertholletia excelsa Humb. & Bonpl.: Lecythidaceae

2.9–27.3^3,8,10

Macadamias

Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche

2.3–14.3^1,3,5,10

Pistachios

Pistachia vera L.

3.0–43.0^3,5,8,10

Pecans

Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch.

1.8–28.9^3,5,10

Hazelnuts

Corylus avellana L.

2.2–35.5^2,3,5-10

Pine nuts

Pinus L.

3.0–11.9^8,10

**Table 3.** Lower inositol phosphate contents in selected plant seeds*
Sample	Lower inositol phosphate content (µmol/g)
InsP_1–5 are myo-inositol monophosphate, myo-inositol bisphosphate, myo-inositol trisphosphate, myo-inositol tetrakisphosphate, myo*-inositol pentakisphosphate, respectively. N.d.: not detected and the author(s) did not specify the limit of detection: ¹Burbano et al.1995; ²Chen et al. 2007; ³Duong et al. 2017a; ⁴Duong et al. 2017b; ⁵Helfrich and Bettmer 2004; ⁶Kasim and Edwards 1998; ⁷Liu et al. 2009; ⁸Morris and Hill 1996; ⁹Rodehutscord et al. 2016; ¹⁰Simonet et al. 2003.
Cereals
Barley	N.d.–0.8^6,9	N.d.^6,9	N.d.–2.9^6,9	–	–
Maize	0.3–2.5^5,6,9	N.d.– 0.7^5,6,9	0.1–0.5⁹	–	–
Oat	0.1–0.2⁹	N.d.^6,9	N.d.^6,9	–	–
Rye	0.2–0.4⁹	N.d.⁹	N.d.⁹	–	–
Sorghum	N.d.–0.9⁶	N.d.⁶	N.d.⁶	–	–
Triticale	0.2–0.4⁹	N.d.⁹	N.d.⁹	–	–
Wheat	N.d.–0.5^6.9	N.d.^6,9	N.d.^6,9	–	–
Legumes
Chickpeas	– 2.1^1,8,10	0.04–0.6^1,8,10	<0.005–0.6^1,6,8	0.3¹⁰	0.1¹⁰
Common beans
Black beans	0.5–3.2^4,8	0.1⁸	<0.005⁸	–	–
Great Northern beans	0.6–2.2^4,8	0.2⁸	<0.005⁸	–	–
Navy beans	0.6–1.8^4,8	0.1⁸	<0.005⁸	–	–
Pink beans	0.6⁴	–	–	–	–
Pinto beans	0.3–3.1^2,8,10	0.2–0.7^8,10	<0.005–0.2^8,10	0.2¹⁰	0.1¹⁰
Red kidney bean	0.3–1.8^2,8,10	0.2⁸	<0.005⁸	–	–
White beans	3.0¹⁰	0.6¹⁰	0.2¹⁰	0.2¹⁰	0.2¹⁰
Cow peas	2.5⁸	0.3⁸	0.01⁸	–	–
Lentils	0.2–3.2^1,5,8,10	0.1–0.8^1,5,8,10	0.3–0.4^1,8,10	0.3¹⁰	0.2¹⁰
Mung beans	1.2²	–	–	–	–
Tree nuts
Almonds	0.4–10.0^2,4,5,7,10	0.4–8.5^4,5,7,10	1.0–1.8^4,7,10	0.7–3.8^4,7,10	<0.002– 1.5^4,7,10
Cashews	1.3–6.6^2,3,5	0.3–1.2^3,5	0.2– 0.5^3,5	0.07– 0.2^3,5	<0.002– 0.2^3,5
Hazelnuts	0.4–1.2^3,5,7,10	0.2–1.1^3,7,10	0.01–0.5^3,7,10	0.04–0.5^3,7,10	0.003–0.3^3,7,10
Macadamias	0.6–1.2^2,3	0.2³	0.02³	<0.002³	0.06³
Pecans	0.3–0.5^2,3	0.2³	0.08³	0.02³	0.04³
Pine nuts	1.5¹⁰	1.1¹⁰	0.7¹⁰	0.9¹⁰	1.1¹⁰
English Walnuts	0.8–1.6^2,3	0.2³	0.02³	<0.002³	0.07³

Table 3. Lower inositol phosphate contents in selected plant seeds*

Sample

Lower inositol phosphate content (µmol/g)

InsP₅

InsP₄

InsP₃

InsP₂

InsP₁

*InsP_1–5 are myo-inositol monophosphate, myo-inositol bisphosphate, myo-inositol trisphosphate, myo-inositol tetrakisphosphate, myo-inositol pentakisphosphate, respectively. N.d.: not detected and the author(s) did not specify the limit of detection: ¹Burbano et al.1995; ²Chen et al. 2007; ³Duong et al. 2017a; ⁴Duong et al. 2017b; ⁵Helfrich and Bettmer 2004; ⁶Kasim and Edwards 1998; ⁷Liu et al. 2009; ⁸Morris and Hill 1996; ⁹Rodehutscord et al. 2016; ¹⁰Simonet et al. 2003.

Cereals

Barley

N.d.–0.8^6,9

N.d.^6,9

N.d.–2.9^6,9

–

Maize

0.3–2.5^5,6,9

N.d.– 0.7^5,6,9

0.1–0.5⁹

–

Oat

0.1–0.2⁹

N.d.^6,9

–

Rye

0.2–0.4⁹

N.d.⁹

–

Sorghum

N.d.–0.9⁶

N.d.⁶

–

Triticale

0.2–0.4⁹

N.d.⁹

–

Wheat

N.d.–0.5^6.9

N.d.^6,9

–

Legumes

Chickpeas

– 2.1^1,8,10

0.04–0.6^1,8,10

<0.005–0.6^1,6,8

0.3¹⁰

0.1¹⁰

Common beans

Black beans

0.5–3.2^4,8

0.1⁸

<0.005⁸

–

Great Northern beans

0.6–2.2^4,8

0.2⁸

<0.005⁸

–

Navy beans

0.6–1.8^4,8

0.1⁸

<0.005⁸

–

Pink beans

0.6⁴

–

Pinto beans

0.3–3.1^2,8,10

0.2–0.7^8,10

<0.005–0.2^8,10

0.2¹⁰

0.1¹⁰

Red kidney bean

0.3–1.8^2,8,10

0.2⁸

<0.005⁸

–

White beans

3.0¹⁰

0.6¹⁰

0.2¹⁰

Cow peas

2.5⁸

0.3⁸

0.01⁸

–

Lentils

0.2–3.2^1,5,8,10

0.1–0.8^1,5,8,10

0.3–0.4^1,8,10

0.3¹⁰

0.2¹⁰

Mung beans

1.2²

–

Tree nuts

Almonds

0.4–10.0^2,4,5,7,10

0.4–8.5^4,5,7,10

1.0–1.8^4,7,10

0.7–3.8^4,7,10

<0.002– 1.5^4,7,10

Cashews

1.3–6.6^2,3,5

0.3–1.2^3,5

0.2– 0.5^3,5

0.07– 0.2^3,5

<0.002– 0.2^3,5

Hazelnuts

0.4–1.2^3,5,7,10

0.2–1.1^3,7,10

0.01–0.5^3,7,10

0.04–0.5^3,7,10

0.003–0.3^3,7,10

Macadamias

0.6–1.2^2,3

0.2³

0.02³

<0.002³

0.06³

Pecans

0.3–0.5^2,3

0.2³

0.08³

0.02³

0.04³

Pine nuts

1.5¹⁰

1.1¹⁰

0.7¹⁰

0.9¹⁰

1.1¹⁰

English Walnuts

0.8–1.6^2,3

0.2³

0.02³

<0.002³

0.07³