Discovery of an S-equol rich food stinky tofu, a traditional fermented soy product in Taiwan.

摘要

A recent epidemiological study has shown that daily intake of mg quantities of S-equol is required for health-promoting effects in menopausal women. However, the max. equol content in food was reported to be approx. 130 mug/100 g in egg yolk. The objective of this study was to find a high equol-containing food. The equol content was measured in 33 egg yolks and 21 fermented soybean foods. Equol was detected in 28 egg yolks at a max. content of 43 mug/100 g. In the fermented soybean foods, equol was detected only in stinky tofu. 16 stinky tofu samples purchased during different seasons were examined, and the average equol content was 1.39 mg/100 g (range of 0.34-2.68 mg/100 g). Equol was present in stinky tofu as the S-enantiomeric form and as an aglycon type. This is the 1st report to demonstrate that stinky tofu contains high levels of S-equol, which may exert beneficial effects in menopausal women.