Dietary phytoestrogens – a role in women’s health

Abstract

Interest into the role of dietary phytoestrogens and their potential effects on women’s health has dramatically increased over the past decade. Phytoestrogens, and in particular isoflavone‐rich soya foods, are now believed to play a role in alleviating symptoms of the menopause, maintaining bone density, reducing blood cholesterol levels, protecting against cancer development. In addition they exhibit potent antioxidant activities. Evidence is now sufficiently strong for both the US FDA and the UK JHCI to have approved use of food health claims for intakes of 25g soya protein daily, complete with their constituent isoflavones, for the reduction of blood cholesterol levels. This article reviews the main areas of evidence for the role of phytoestrogens in women’s health and practical approaches to increasing phytoestrogen‐rich foods in the daily diet.