The consortium currently includes 47 scientists from several universities, plus representatives from federal agricultural and health agencies. In August, consortium members will discuss their research plans at the sixth World Soybean Research Conference in Chicago. The USDA-Iowa State University Isoflavones Database is up and running on the World Wide Web. Isoflavones are compounds in soybeans that have antioxidant capability, and may perform other functions that enhance health. Scientists suspect isoflavones may help lower the risk of breast and prostate cancer.
Consumers can look up particular foods and find out the content of isoflavones.
The database comes at a time when U.S. sales of soyfoods are on the rise. The database also is timely because the Food and Drug Administration may decide later this year on a health claim regarding soyfoods. Like diabetics, Alzheimer's patients have difficulty absorbing glucose, a sugar abundant in the bloodstream. They experience a glucose shortage in the brain, and the resulting imbalance of chemicals can lead to memory loss and disorientation. The researchers suspect that the presence of a protein may hinder the function of a pathway that transports glucose to the brain.