The USDA-Iowa State University Isoflavones Database was launched earlier this year on the World Wide Web. Isoflavones are compounds that mimic the hormone estrogen. They also have antioxidant capability, and may perform other functions that enhance health. For example, scientists suspect isoflavones may help lower the risk of cancer, especially breast and prostate cancer. The database project was partially funded by the U.S. Army Breast Cancer Research Initiative.
Consumers can look up particular foods and find out the content of isoflavones.
The USDA scientists who assembled the database relied on Murphy's analyses of isoflavone content in many soyfoods. Murphy and other ISU researchers have been studying isoflavones in soybeans and soyfoods for years. Because of a recent Food and Drug Administration decision, consumers may be seeing more soyfoods on the market. The FDA decision will permit soy product labels to make statements about the role of soy in reducing heart disease. The FDA's decision comes at a time when sales of soyfoods in the United States are increasing.