Assessment of the estrogenicity of the diet of a healthy female Spanish population based on its isoflavone content

• Published in: Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment, 2013-04, Vol.30 (4), p.627-633
• Main Authors: Hernandez-Elizondo, J, Monteagudo, C, Murcia, M.A, Olea, N, Olea-Serrano, F, Mariscal-Arcas, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; adults; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical compounds; Diet; estrogenic properties; estrogenicity; Estrogens; exposure; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; healthy diet; healthy Spanish women; human health; Humans; Ingredients; isoflavone; isoflavones; Isoflavones - analysis; MCF-7 Cells; Middle Aged; Nutrition; Näringslära; phytoestrogens; Phytoestrogens - analysis; plant estrogens; questionnaires; Reference Values; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1944-0057; 1944-0049; 1944-0057
• DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2013.775604

Phytoestrogens are natural components of plants consumed by humans. The hormonal activity of these substances has long been known. Various in vitro tests have demonstrated the agonistic or antagonistic estrogenic activity of some phytoestrogens. The objective of this study was to estimate the supply of isoflavones in the diet of a healthy adult female population and to assess its estrogenic effect. The diet was assessed by questionnaire and the estrogenicity of the estimated isoflavone content was tested by E-screen, finding a mean total estrogenic capacity of 0.129 × 10⁻¹⁰ eq.E₂ (12.9 pmol day–¹), corresponding to a daily isoflavone intake of 265.8 μg day–¹. This study offers a preliminary insight into the phytoestrogen content of the diet of a healthy active population of Spanish women. The effects of this additional hormonal burden are highly controversial, and this approach to estimating dietary phytoestrogen intake of specific populations may help to elucidate its implications for human health.