Genistein in food: ingestion safety
Moderate risk(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) Major soy isoflavone. Weak estrogen receptor agonist (ERβ > ERα). Dietary levels (Asian diets ~25-50 mg/day) associated with lower breast/prostate cancer risk. Supplemental doses debated.
What is genistein?
The IUPAC name is 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-one.
Also known as: Prunetol, 4',5,7-Trihydroxyisoflavone, Genisterin, Genisteol.
- IUPAC name
- 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-one
- CAS number
- 446-72-0
- Molecular formula
- C15H10O5
- Molecular weight
- 270.24 g/mol
- SMILES
- Oc1ccc(-c2coc3cc(O)cc(O)c3c2=O)cc1
- PubChem CID
- 5280961
Risk for people
Moderate riskMajor soy isoflavone. Weak estrogen receptor agonist (ERβ > ERα). Dietary levels (Asian diets ~25-50 mg/day) associated with lower breast/prostate cancer risk. Supplemental doses debated.
Regulatory consensus
2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Genistein. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA | 1999 | GRAS as component of soy foods; qualified health claim for soy protein | |
| EFSA | 2015 | No safety concern from soy isoflavones in food at dietary levels; supplements up to ~150 mg/day reviewed |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where you encounter genistein
- Food
- Dietary Supplement
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Genistein:
-
Resveratrol
Trade-offs: Different mechanism (SIRT1 activation, not ER binding). Lower estrogenic activity. Bioavailability issues.Relative cost: 2-3×
Frequently asked questions
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See Genistein in the food app
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Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →