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This research project aims to measure the phytoestrogen content of food commonly consumed in the UK and to estimate the dietary intake of phytoestrogens by the UK population.
Study Duration : January 1995 to March 1998
Contractor : MRC Dunn Human Nutrition Unit
Information on the levels of phytoestrogens in foods is vital to be able to assess human exposure to phytoestrogens. This study aims to measure the phytoestrogen content of food commonly consumed in the UK and to estimate the dietary intake of phytoestrogens by the UK population.
An improved method to measure phytoestrogens in foods and urine will be developed and used to quantify the level of phytoestrogens in 274 foods commonly consumed in the UK and to determine whether cooking in boiling water affects phytoestrogen levels in foods.
This project will also include an investigation of the possible health effects of genistein and daidzein, which will be jointly funded with the Medical Research Council. The study will examine whether consuming tablets providing 40 mg of phytoestrogens daily for one year has any effects on bone density, mammographic breast density, hormone levels, menopausal symptoms or markers of cardiovascular disease in approximately 100 women aged 49-65.
An improved analytical method was developed to measure two phytoestrogens, genistein and daidzein, in food and urine. Analysis involved enzymatic hydrolysis before gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The method was found to measure phytoestrogens accurately over a wide range of concentrations.
Analysis of 274 foods showed that:
The effects of cooking were examined in 56 foods. In general, boiling in water decreased the concentration of genistein and/or daidzein, although the extent of this decrease depended on the type of food.
The investigation of the possible health effects of phytoestrogens suggested that phytoestrogens might have a protective effect on bone loss in the lumbar (lower) spine in women. However, there were no effects on other parts of the spine or the hip bone. There were no significant effects on mammographic breast density, hormone levels, menopausal symptoms or markers of cardiovascular disease in the subject group.
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
Atkinson, C., Compston, J.E., Day, N.E., Dowsett, M. and Bingham, S.A. (2004). The effects of phytoestrogen isoflavones on bone density in women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 79, 326-33.
Atkinson, C., Warren, R.M., Sala, E., Dowsett, M., Dunning, A.M., Healey, C.S., Runswick, S., Day, N.E. and Bingham, S.A. (2004). Red clover-derived isoflavones and mammographic breast density: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Breast Cancer Res. 6, R170-9.
Liggins, J., Mulligan, A., Runswick, S. and Bingham, S.A. (2002) Daidzein and genistein content of cereals. Eu J Clin Nutr. 56, 1-6.
Liggins, J., Bluck, L., Coward, W.A., and Bingham, S.A. (1998). Extraction and quantification of daidzein and genistein in food. Anal Biochem. 264, 1-7.
Liggins, J., Bluck, L., Coward, W.A. and Bingham, S.A. (1998). A simple method for the extraction and quantification of daidzein and genistein in food using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Biochem Soc Transact. 26, S87-S88.
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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