Food Standards Agency
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Listen to this siteWednesday 14 July 2004
This research project aims to examine the effects that one phytoestrogen (an isoflavone) has on post-natal development.
Study Duration : May 1997 to March 2001
Some infants are fed soya-based infant formulas, which are known to contain high levels of phytoestrogens. It is possible that phytoestrogens may affect the health of infants fed soya-based infant formulas. The project aims to examine the effects that one phytoestrogen (an isoflavone) has on post-natal development in rats.
This project will investigate the effects of an isoflavone found in soya-based infant formula on a range of male and female developmental parameters in an experimental model of human neonatal exposure.
When administered at a level similar to that given to human infants fed soya-based formulas, the isoflavone genistein had no effects on female sexual development. However, when a dose ten times higher than this was used, female sexual development began at an earlier time-point in the rats. The implications of this finding for humans in unclear because of the difference in sexual development between rats and humans.
Genistein had no similar effects on male sexual development, even at the higher dose.
Final report is available from the FSA Library and Information centre.
To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Dr Elsie Widdowson Library and Information Services, Food Standards Agency tel: 020 7276 8181/8182 or email:
library&info@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
).
Publications
Lewis, R.W., Brooks, N., Milburn, G.M., Soames, A., Stone, S., Hall, M., and Ashby, J. (2003). The effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on the postnatal development of the rat. Toxicol Sci. 71, 74-83.
Contact
: For any enquiries concerning this research project, please contact the relevant Programme contact or email:
science@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
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