The phytate hydrolysis decreases the negative effects on mineral absorption
and generates lower myo-inositol phosphates with potential
specific biological activity that may positively affect human health (Shi
et al., 2006). Phytases are the enzymes capable of sequentially dephosphorylating
phytic acid to products of lower chelating capacity and
higher solubility, unlocking the inhibitory effect on mineral absorption
(Haros et al., 2009). Cereals have their own endogenous phytase activity
that could be enhanced by the low pH resulting from the use of sourdough
in the breadmaking process, but this activity is not sufficient to ef-
ficiently degrade phytate (