Phytoestrogen

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Phytoestrogen and Its Food Sources

The major phytoestrogen groups are isoflavones, flavones, coumestans and lignans. The former three are flavonoids. Isoflavones are found in high concentration in soy bean and soy bean products (eg. tofu) where as lignans are mainly found in flax seed. Some studies indicate that phytoestrogens have health benefits including potential reduction in breast cancer, prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease risks, possible protection against osteoporosis (bone loss) and menopausal symptoms. Besides, both flavonoid and lignan phytoestrogens have antioxidant activity. Estrogen is available in medically formulated pills. However, dietary estrogen (phytoestrogen) can be also found in wide variety of food products (including herbs), even though the level varies depending on the source. Below is a short list of phytoestrogen food sources analyzed by researchers in Canada. The Canadian researchers analyzed 121 food samples, of which the food samples with the highest total phytoestrogen content are presented below. The food samples with the highest total phytoestrogen content were nuts and oil seeds followed by soy products. Total phytoestrogen content presented below is the sum of isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, glycitein, formononetin), lignans (secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, pinoresinol, lariciresinol), and coumestan (coumestrol). Table 1. Foods high in phytoestrogen content. Phytoestrogen food sources Phytoestrogen content (µg/100g) Flax seed 379380 Soy beans 103920 Tofu 27150.1 Soy yogurt 10275 Sesame seed 8008.1 Flax bread 7540 Multigrain bread 4798.7 Soy milk 2957.2 Hummus 993 Garlic 603.6 Mung bean sprouts 495.1 Dried apricots 444.5 Alfalfa sprouts 441.4 Dried dates 329.5 Sunflower seed 216 Chestnuts 210.2 Olive oil 180.7 Almonds 131.1 Green bean 105.8 Peanuts 34.5 Onion 32 Blueberry 17.5 Corn 9 Coffee, regular 6.3 Watermelon 2.9 Milk, cow 1.2 Table 2. Total phytoestrogen and lignan content in vegetables, fruits, nuts and drinks. Food items Lignan content (µg/100g) Total phytoestrogen (µg/100g) Vegetables Soy bean sprouts 2.2 789.6 Garlic 583.2 603.6 Winter squash 113.3 113.7 Green beans 66.8 105.8 Collards 97.8 101.3 Broccoli 93.9 94.1 Cabbage 79.1 80 Fruits Dried prunes 177.5 183.5 Peaches 61.8 64.5 Strawberry 48.9 51.6 Raspberry 37.7 47.6 Watermelon 2.9 2.9 Nuts and other legume seeds Pistachios 198.9 382.5 Chestnuts 186.6 210.2 Walnuts 85.7 139.5 Cashews 99.4 121.9 Hazel nuts 77.1 107.5 Lentils 26.6 36.5 Beverages Wine, red 37.3 53.9 Tea, green 12 13 Wine, white 8 12.7 Tea, black 8.1 8.9 Coffee, decaf 4.8 5.5 Beer 1.1 2.7 Other Black bean souce 10.5 5330.3 Black licorice 415.1 862.7 Bread, rye 142.9 146.3 Phytoestrogen related articles: Dietary Intake of Phytoestrogens Cuts the Risk of Colorectal Cancer Description and the effect of phytoestrogens in the body? Estrogens: What they are, functions, and synthesis Phytoestrogens, osteoporosis and menopausal women Tofu: phytoestrogen and health benefits Lignan: food sources Pregnancy, health and nutrition related articles: Caffeine use during pregnancy Antidepressant use during pregnancy Pregnancy, breast feeding and bone health Fish oil health benefits during pregnancy and for child development Vitamin E intake during pregnancy and its effect on childhood asthma Flax seed, pregnancy, and menopause Herbs and sexuality: Yohimbe: health benefits and side effects Ginseng: health benefits and side effects Ginkgo Biloba: health benefits and side effects Erectile dysfunction, and benefits of L-arginine and nitric oxide Erectile dysfunction related articles: What is erectile dysfunction? How does erection occur? What are the causes of erectile dysfunction? What are the treatments for erectile dysfunction? Related links Fat: List of Food high in total fat and saturated fatty acids Phytoestrogen data source: Thompson, L. U., Boucher, B. A., Lui, Z., Cotterchio, M., and Kreiger, N. 2006. Phytoestrogen content of foods consumed in Canada, including isoflavones, lignans and coumestan. Nutrition and Cancer, 54(2), 184-201. Additional references: Cassidy A. Potential risks and benefits of phytoestrogen-rich diets.Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2003 Mar;73(2):120-6. Ganry O. Phytoestrogens and prostate cancer risk. Prev Med. 2005 Jul;41(1):1-6.

Updated on 19 October 2009.

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