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An estimate of the mean daily intake of glucosinolates from cruciferous vegetables in the UK
Author(s) -
Sones Karen,
Heaney Robert K.,
Fenwick G. Roger
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740350619
Subject(s) - glucosinolate , cruciferous vegetables , food science , biology , growing season , zoology , seasonality , toxicology , brassica , agronomy , ecology , cancer , genetics
Samples (174) of cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and swede‐turnip have been analysed for total and individual glucosinolate content in both the fresh and cooked form. Using data from the 1980 National Food Survey, the national mean daily intake is calculated to be 46.1 mg in fresh material, and 29.4 mg in cooked. There are large variations within the UK (for example in Scotland it is less than half that in south‐west of England), between income groups and over the year. National mean daily intake figures for the glucosinolates yielding goitrogenic products such as oxazolidine‐2‐thiones and thiocyanate ion are 6.7 and 14.7 mg respectively; the former figure is approximately doubled in the winter months. Based upon the above variations, arising from eating habits in the UK, together with the known large variation in glucosinolate content in cruciferous plants because of agronomic and environmental effects, it is likely that certain individuals will consume more than 300 mg total glucosinolates per day. The nutritional and toxicological consequences of such an intake are unknown at present.