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Abstract
In plant foods, inositol phosphates (InsPs) are commonly found in highest abundance in seeds, but knowledge on the InsPs deposition of tree nuts has been lacking. Utilizing HPLC/ESI/MS, an InsPs extraction and analysis method was refined specifically for the complex matrices of almond meal and almond brown skins. This assay was used to evaluate six major California sweet almond cultivars, as well as the meal of seven major tree nuts (cashews, Brazil nuts, macadamias, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts) and three grain components allegedly rich in phosphorus (wheat aleurone, rice bran, corn germ). InsPs composition was found to vary strongly among different almond cultivars, among different tree nuts, and between tree nuts and grain components. Possible influences from growing and processing factors were also observed. These results suggest that further investigation on the InsPs composition of tree nuts, as affected by cultivation and processing conditions, is highly desirable.