Dietary phytic acid lowers the blood glucose level in diabetic KK mice

Phytic acid, myo-inositol hexaphosphate, is a plant component existing in most grains and legumes. Although much attention has been focused on the biologic actions of phytic acid in human beings and animals, its effect on the blood glucose level in diabetic models has not been evaluated. This study was conducted to examine the supplementary effect of phytate on the blood glucose level in a diabetic rodent model. Thirty male diabetic KK mice were fed with purified diets supplemented with 0% (P0), 0.5% (P5), or 1.0% (P10) sodium phytate for 8 weeks. Diet intake, body and organ weights, and levels of fasting and random blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, as well as insulin were measured. A glucose tolerance test was conducted. There was no significant difference in diet intake, body weight, and organ weight among the experimental groups. The concentrations of fasting and random blood glucose were lower in the groups fed with the phytate diets, and the significant (P < .05) difference from P0 was found only in the P10 group. Hemoglobin A1c levels were significantly (P < .05) lower in the P5 and P10 groups as compared with those in the P0 group. There was no significant difference in insulin levels among the experimental groups. The blood glucose levels after 30 minutes of glucose injection were significantly lower in the P5 and P10 groups than in the P0 group. These results suggest that phytate reduced the blood glucose levels of diabetic mice. Effective blood glucose control by phytate may be an alternative for the management of diabetes and disorders of carbohydrate metabolism.