Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #166502
Title: COMPREHENSIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE

Author
item FANG, NIANBAI - UAMS
item YU, SHANGGONG - ACNC
item BADGER, THOMAS - UAMS

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/14/2004
Publication Date: 5/15/2004
Citation: Fang, N., Yu, S., Badger, T.M. 2004. Comprehensive phytochemical profile of soy protein isolate. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 52(12):4012-4020.

Interpretive Summary: Although an FDA health claim for soy protein has been issued, the potential health benefits of soy foods remain controversial among scientists, especially with regard to soy infant formula. The UV-detectable isoflavones have been the focus of the majority of studies concerning health-related effects of soy protein isolate (SPI). However, the chemical identities and health effects of other SPI phytochemicals without UV absorption properties are less well studied. In the current study, we employed LC-MS/MS methods to reveal a complicated phytochemical profile for SPI consisting of 136 phytochemicals. Also, we have quantitated many of these SPI phytochemicals so that dietary intakes can be estimated for foods containing SPI. On a weight/weight basis, fatty acids are the largest group of phytochemicals in the extract (64% total fat), followed by saponins (21%), and then isoflavones at 6.8%. Of the 56 lyso-phospholipids identified in SPI, 0.50% was lyso-phosphatidylcholines and 0.23% was lyso-phosphatidylethanolamines.

Technical Abstract: Although an FDA health claim for soy protein has been issued, the potential health benefits of soy foods remain controversial among scientists, especially with regard to soy infant formula. The UV detectable isoflavones have been the focus of the majority of studies concerning health-related effects of soy protein isolate (SPI). However, the chemical identities and health effects of other SPI phytochemicals without UV absorption properties are less well-studied. In the current study, we employed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods to reveal a complicated phytochemical profile for SPI consisting of 136 phytochemicals. Also, we have quantitated many of these SPI phytochemicals so that dietary intakes can be estimated for foods containing SPI. On a weight/weight basis, fatty acids are the largest group of phytochemicals in the extract (64.13% total fat), followed by saponins (21.48%), and then isoflavones at 6.82%. Of the 56 lysophospholipids identified in SPI, 0.50% was lysophosphatidylcholines and 0.23% was lysophosphatidylethanolamines. Keywords: Soy protein; isoflavones; soysaponins; lysophospholipids; fatty acids; LC-MS/MS; folates