Fermenting bitter lupine seeds with lactic acid bacteria greatly reduces phytic acid, allowing calves to absorb more phosphorus, iron, and boron from their feed, potentially improving their nutrient...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
Good bacteria break down a compound in lupine seeds that normally locks up important minerals, freeing them so they can be absorbed. This also feeds other helpful bacteria that make acids, making the gut more friendly to nutrient uptake. Heating the seeds helps a little, but the bacteria method...
Most probable mechanism
Good bacteria break down a compound in lupine seeds that normally traps minerals like iron, phosphorus, and boron, freeing those minerals so they can be absorbed. This also feeds other helpful bacteria that produce acids, making the gut environment better for nutrient uptake.
Lactic acid bacteria produce phytase enzymes that cleave phytic acid into inositol and inorganic phosphate ions.
The breakdown of phytic acid reduces its ability to bind and sequester minerals such as phosphorus, iron, and boron, increasing their solubility in the digestive environment.
Degradation products from phytic acid and other seed components serve as fermentable substrates that support the growth of lactic acid bacteria and Veillonellaceae.
Lactic acid bacteria and associated microbes produce lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids, lowering gut pH and creating conditions that favor mineral absorption and inhibit pathogenic microbes.
Less supported by current evidence, but not ruled out
Heating the seeds breaks down proteins and partially breaks up the mineral-trapping compound, releasing some minerals and changing the gut bacteria to ones that break down proteins instead of sugars.
High temperature denatures seed proteins and partially hydrolyzes phytic acid, releasing ammonium ions and free amino acids.
Denatured proteins and residual phytate fragments become substrates for thermotolerant and proteolytic bacteria.
Proteolytic bacteria ferment amino acids into branched-chain fatty acids and butyrate, altering gut metabolism and potentially improving energy harvest.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Methods of Phytic Acid Reduction in Bitter Lupine Seeds and Their Effects on the Microbiota of Calves
Contradicting (0)
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