235 Gum-arabic Whole Oxalate Oxalates also affect in vivo calcium and magnesium metabolism by complexing with these metals and reducing their bioavailability and utilization. Excessive intakes of oxalic acid can cause diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and renal damage. Oxalates also react with proteins to form complexes which have an inhibitory effect on peptic digestion in animals false false The oxalate values obtained for the selected values lie below 2%, thus suggesting that oxalate concentration in these plants are within the safe range. 8,924