Determination of Lignans and Isoflavonoids in Human Female Plasma Following Dietary Supplementation

Determination of lignans and isoflavonoids in human female plasma following dietary supplementation.
J Endocrinol 1994 Aug;142(2):251-9
Morton MS, Wilcox G, Wahlqvist ML, Griffiths K.
Tenovus Cancer Research Centre, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.

Plasma levels of the lignans enterodiol and enterolactone, and also the isoflavonic phyto-oestrogens daidzein, equol and genistein, are reported for postmenopausal Australian women consuming a traditional diet supplemented with linseed, soya flour or clover sprouts. Analysis was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, after enzymatic hydrolysis and ion-exchange chromatography. Following linseed supplementation, combined levels of enterolactone and enterodiol reached 500 ng/ml, whereas after soya flour or clover sprouts the respective concentrations of equol, daidzein and genistein reached 43, 312 and 148 ng/ml. Not all subjects were able to produce equol from daidzein. The possible relationship and role of these weak dietary oestrogens as restraining factors in the development of hormone-dependent cancers in Asian populations is discussed.