Analytical methods used to quantify isoflavones in cow's milk: a review

Area of Science:

• Food Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Isoflavones are phytoestrogens with potential health benefits and endocrine-disrupting properties.
• Accurate quantification of isoflavones and their metabolites in cow's milk is essential for research.
• Existing research highlights the need for advanced analytical techniques to resolve contradictory findings.

Approach:

• A comprehensive literature review of 26 articles (2005-2015) from Scopus and CAB Abstract databases was conducted.
• Analytical procedures, including sample preparation, instrumental analysis, and validation, were critically examined.
• Focus on methods for quantifying isoflavones and their metabolites in bovine milk.

Key Points:

• Liquid-liquid extraction and enzymatic hydrolysis are common sample preparation techniques.
• Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is the predominant instrumental analysis method.
• No standardized method currently exists for isoflavone analysis in milk.

Conclusions:

• Reliable analytical methods are critical for advancing research on isoflavones in cow's milk.
• Further standardization of analytical procedures is needed for consistent and comparable results.
• This review provides a foundation for developing improved methods for isoflavone quantification.