Antinutrients and Isoflavones - UNICEF

Antinutrients and Isoflavones Baseline Data May 2021

Alison Fleet and Monica Rios

Definition of Antinutrient:

A naturally occurring substance found in plant derived foods, that interferes with the absorption or proper functioning of nutrients in the body.

Trypsin inhibitor Prevents digestion and absorption of proteins.

Lectin

Prevents the breakdown of starch and other complex carbohydrates into simple sugars. Binds to the inner lining of the intestine, thus affecting general absorption of nutrients.

Phytic Acid

Found in the hulls of nuts, seeds and grains. Binds Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn. Reason why product should be low in fiber; high fiber indicates there are more particles from the hull of the seeds and grains.

Isoflavones

• Not an antinutrient because they do not interfere in the absorption of nutrients.

• Known to have oestrogenic effects.

• Animal studies indicate risk of lower fertility and higher incidence of cancer in rats given feed high in isoflavones.

• A study found that girls fed soy formula as infants had longer bleeding and discomfort during menstruation.

• Not enough evidence for detrimental effects of isoflavones in infants fed soy-based formula.

Antinutrients

01. Lectins

All samples are at or

below the level of

detection (0.05 mg/g).

02. Trypsin Inhibitor

All samples are close to the

level of detection

(0.2 mg/g). Only one, soy

based, is 6.63 mg/g.

The heat treatment

(roasting or extrusion)

applied to the product is

enough to decrease lectins

and trypsin inhibitors to

adequate levels.

Antinutrients

Antinutrients

02. Phytic Acid

All peanut and chickpea samples are

close to the level of detection (1

mg/g).

One soy-based sample has 135 mg/g.

Phytic acid is usually found in the

seed coat of peanuts.

Peeling is adequate in peanut based

RUTF.

01.

All peanut and chickpea samples

are below 75 ppm.

02.

All soy-based samples are above

100 ppm. Four of them are between

475 and 650 ppm.

03.

Soy-based infant formula exposes

infants to 18 – 41 mg/day versus 60

mg/day when fed RUTF.

04.

The more processed the soy, the

lower the level of isoflavones.

Isoflavones

Key messages

• At the moment, there is no legislation regarding limits of antinutrients or isoflavones.

• Prevention is key. Validate raw material suppliers.

• Obtain information from raw material suppliers on processing (for example, peeling of peanuts) and heat treatment given to legumes.

• How processed is the soy? The more processed, the lower the level of isoflavones.

• Communicate changes in raw materials and process to the technical team and to QAC.