Evaluation of the composition and concentration of isoflavones in soy based supplements, health products and infant formulas

Isoflavones are weak estrogenic compounds found in soybeans and soy foods. The objective of the present study was to determine the content and composition of isoflavones in different soy isoflavone supplements, soy based health products and infant formulas. Commercially available samples of 13 different soy supplements and 11 soy based health products obtained from South East Asia were analyzed for their isoflavone concentrations by using high-performance liquid chromatography and their peak identities confirmed by LC–MS. The extent of daily intake of isoflavones from different products based on the directions for their consumption was further evaluated. The amount of isoflavones in dietary supplements, soy based health products and infant formulas ranged from 405 to 57,570, 46.32–1333.80 and 59.54–226.84 μg/g of the sample, respectively, expressed as aglycone equivalents.