Connecting the PWS Dots | ResearchDatabase | (Thompson 2006) Phytoestrogen content of foods consumed in Canada

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Nutr Cancer. 2006;54(2):184-201.
Phytoestrogen content of foods consumed in Canada, including isoflavones, lignans, and coumestan.
Thompson LU, Boucher BA, Liu Z, Cotterchio M, Kreiger N.
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Phytoestrogens may play a role in hormone-related diseases such as cancer, but epidemiological and clinical data are conflicting in part due to inadequate databases used in intake estimation. A database of nine phytoestrogens in foods relevant to Western diets was developed to more accurately estimate intakes. Foods (N = 121) available in Ontario, Canada were prepared as commonly consumed and analyzed for isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, glycitein, formononetin), lignans (secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, pinoresinol, lariciresinol), and coumestan (coumestrol) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. Data were presented on an as is (wet) basis per 100 g and per serving. Food groups with decreasing levels of total phytoestrogens per 100 g are nuts and oilseeds, soy products, cereals and breads, legumes, meat products, and other processed foods that may contain soy, vegetables, fruits, alcoholic, and nonalcoholic beverages. Soy products contain the highest amounts of isoflavone, followed by legumes, meat products and other processed foods, cereals and breads, nuts and oilseeds, vegetables, alcoholic beverages, fruits, and nonalcoholic beverages. Decreasing amounts of lignans are found in nuts and oilseeds, cereals and breads, legumes, fruits, vegetables, soy products, processed foods, alcoholic, and nonalcoholic beverages. The richest sources of specific phytoestrogens, including coumestrol, were identified. The database will improve phytoestrogen intake estimation in future epidemiological and clinical studies particularly in Western populations.

According to this web site, the data in the following tables is from the above research article. (Note that lignans are phytoestrogens with estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity. For additional data on the lignan content of various foods, see Milder 2005.)

Table 1. Foods high in phytoestrogen content
Food	Phytoestrogen content (痢/100g)
Flax seed	379,380.0
Soy beans	103,920.0
Tofu	27,150.1
Soy yogurt	10,275.0
Sesame seed	8,008.1
Flax bread	7,540.0
Multigrain bread	4,798.7
Soy milk	2,957.2
Hummus	993.0
Garlic	603.6
Mung bean sprouts	495.1
Dried apricots	444.5
Alfalfa sprouts	441.4
Dried dates	329.5
Sunflower seed	216.0
Chestnuts	210.2
Olive oil	180.7
Almonds	131.1
Green bean	105.8
Peanuts	34.5
Onion	32.0
Blueberry	17.5
Corn	9.0
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	Lignan content (痢/100g)	Total phytoestrogen (痢/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	80.0
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 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	12.0	13.0
Wine, white	8.0	12.7
Tea, black	8.1	8.9
Coffee, decaf	4.8	5.5
Beer	1.1	2.7
Other
Black bean sauce	10.5	5,330.3
Black licorice	415.1	862.7
Bread, rye	142.9	146.3

Categories: 2006, Phytoestrogens, Soy, Nutrition and diet