[Exposure of phytoestrogens intake through diet in a sample of females].
BACKGROUND
The phytoestrogens are naturally occurring compounds that are part of many foods of plant origin and could therefore modulate aspects related hormones, such as type of antioxidant reactions, learning about intakes of these compounds in different populations clarify important aspects on their responses on the human body.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the exposure of phytoestrogens through diet, in a sample of women of all ages belonging to the university community (teachers, students and administrative), residents in the province of Granada, Spain.


METHODS
52 adult females, aged between 20 and 63 years completed a questionnaire individually Frequency of Food Consumption (FFQ) composed of a total of 144 foods. It weighted the total daily consumption of phytoestrogens standardizing these values referring to the daidzein as substance pattern (mg/day). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), with a level of significance of p < 0.05.


RESULTS
The results show that the total intake of phytoestrogens was (0.89 mg/day), and most of phytoestrogens was consumed in the form of lignanos. The total consumption of isoflavones, was 0.12 mg/day, of lignanos was 1.32 mg/day intake coumestrol was not significative. A linear regression analysis determined the equation to calculate intake phytoestrogens took into account 9 food groups (R: 0.918; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Average intake of phytoestrogens in Spain, is comparable to intakes reported by similar studies in Germany, England and the United States (< 1 mg/ day).


CONCLUSIONS
There were no significant differences in the intake of phytoestrogens, when comparing results by age, educational level, marital status or physical activity. The intake of phytoestrogens (mg/day) can be estimated from the intake (g/day) from 9 food groups.
Hernández-Elizondo
J
J
Departamento de Nutrición y Bromatología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España.
Mariscal-Arcas
M
M
Rivas
A
A
Feriche
B
B
Velasco
J
J
Olea-Serrano
F
F
D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D048789:Phytoestrogens