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Swiss Federal Health Service Bulletin

The following extract is from "Toxiques Naturels", Bulletin de office federal de la sonte Division Science des aliments: Experts on Safety Publique No 28, 20/07/1992.

3.3 Substances with an oestrogenic action

As is clear from their definition, these substances have a hormonal effect similar to that of oestrogen in animals and humans. Their origin varies: while the coumestanes and isoflavones, daidzin and genistein, may be included in the phytoalexin group, zearalenone belongs to the mycotoxin group. Isoflavones are contained in plant foodstuffs, in particular in beans (in our garden beans and soya beans) and in garden peas. Their concentration in these foodstuffs is fairly high and can reach a few grams per kilogram in soya beans, for example. The method of preparing the foodstuff does not appear to influence this content in any significant manner. The constant absorption of such quantities of these substances could clearly cause effects in humans: through the consumption of 100 g of the foodstuff, 1 g of isoflavone would be absorbed, corresponding to 100 ug "of equivalents to oestrogen". This quantity is within the range of the oestrogen content of the "pill".