mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids and essential fatty acids and poor source of
saturated fatty acids and, thus, has been approved ‘Heart-healthy’ by the American
Food and Drug Administration, the British Joint Health Claims Initiative, and the
American Heart Association (Sacks et al. 2006).
1.3.4 Vitamins
The vitamin content of soybeans is presented in Table 1.2. In soybean, vitamin E is
available in substantial amount with α-tocopherol (0.4–8 mg/100 g dried weight),
γ-tocopherol (4–80 mg/100 g), δ-tocopherol (1–50 mg/100 g), and trace amount of
β-tocopherol (Kasim et al. 2010; Li et al. 2010).
1.3.5 Minerals
Ash content in soybean ranges from 4.5% to 6.0% (Monteiro et al. 2003; Burssens
et al. 2011). Potassium is found in the highest concentration, followed by phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium; whereas, iron, sodium, zinc, copper, and manganese
are present in minor and selenium in trace amounts (Please refer to the mineral
composition in Table 1.2).
1.3.6 Antinutrients and Phytonutrients
Soybean is a good source not only of protein, oil, and minerals but also of numerous
bioactive/phytonutrient compounds, viz., isoflavones, saponins, protease inhibitors,
and phytic acid. These phytonutrients are proven to be beneficial in the prevention and/or treatment of numerous diseases or physiological disorders by exerting
antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antiallergic, anti-spasmodic, anti-microbial, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory effects (Burssens et al. 2011; Gupta and Prakash 2014).
1.3.6.1 Phytate
Phytate [inositol hexaphosphate (IP6)] is the storage form of phosphorus and a
natural plant antioxidant in leguminous seeds like soybean. However, it reduces
not only the bioavailability of phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, calcium, potassium,
and iron (Davidsson et al. 1994; Hurrell 2003) but also the bioavailability of protein
1 Soybean (Glycine max)
7
saturated fatty acids and, thus, has been approved ‘Heart-healthy’ by the American
Food and Drug Administration, the British Joint Health Claims Initiative, and the
American Heart Association (Sacks et al. 2006).
1.3.4 Vitamins
The vitamin content of soybeans is presented in Table 1.2. In soybean, vitamin E is
available in substantial amount with α-tocopherol (0.4–8 mg/100 g dried weight),
γ-tocopherol (4–80 mg/100 g), δ-tocopherol (1–50 mg/100 g), and trace amount of
β-tocopherol (Kasim et al. 2010; Li et al. 2010).
1.3.5 Minerals
Ash content in soybean ranges from 4.5% to 6.0% (Monteiro et al. 2003; Burssens
et al. 2011). Potassium is found in the highest concentration, followed by phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium; whereas, iron, sodium, zinc, copper, and manganese
are present in minor and selenium in trace amounts (Please refer to the mineral
composition in Table 1.2).
1.3.6 Antinutrients and Phytonutrients
Soybean is a good source not only of protein, oil, and minerals but also of numerous
bioactive/phytonutrient compounds, viz., isoflavones, saponins, protease inhibitors,
and phytic acid. These phytonutrients are proven to be beneficial in the prevention and/or treatment of numerous diseases or physiological disorders by exerting
antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antiallergic, anti-spasmodic, anti-microbial, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory effects (Burssens et al. 2011; Gupta and Prakash 2014).
1.3.6.1 Phytate
Phytate [inositol hexaphosphate (IP6)] is the storage form of phosphorus and a
natural plant antioxidant in leguminous seeds like soybean. However, it reduces
not only the bioavailability of phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, calcium, potassium,
and iron (Davidsson et al. 1994; Hurrell 2003) but also the bioavailability of protein
1 Soybean (Glycine max)
7