New data regarding phytoestrogens content in bovine milk

This study investigates the occurrence of the main phytoestrogens in various commercial bovine milk samples, representing the main foodstuff of a critical population. The results show the presence of isoflavones at trace levels (i.e. in the 0.1–5.0 μg l−1 range) in most of the samples, and the presence of equol and enterolactone in all analyzed samples at relatively high concentrations (14.1–293 and 14.3–94.4 μg l−1, respectively). The consequent potential estrogenic effect on specific populations of children could be questioned. New data are also provided regarding first the correlation between the concentrations of the different isoflavones and second the influence of the animal feedstuff on the milk phytoestrogen content.