Soluble and Insoluble Fe, Zn, Ca, and Phytates in Foods Commonly Consumed in Northern Mexico

In northern Mexico, refried beans and corn and flour tortillas are basic foods. Cereals and legumes are high in phytates and affect mineral absorption. The objective of this study was to determine total phytate and Fe, Zn, and Ca content in these foods and their solubility. Refried beans contained 622 ± 95 mg of phytates/100 g, corn tortillas, 448±40 mg/100 g, and flour tortillas, 123±18 mg/100 g. On the basis of the daily intake of these foods, refried beans provide 861 mg/day of phytates, corn tortillas, 650 mg/day, and flour tortillas, 97 mg/day, for a total of 1608 mg/day. The majority of the phytates are in the insoluble fraction. Refried beans contained 6.05±1.19 mg of Fe/100 g, 3.03±0.12 mg of Zn/100 g, and 170.9±33.3 mg of Ca/100 g