Is Genistein safe for dogs and cats?
Low risk for petsPresent in soy-containing pet foods. No clinical toxicity at dietary levels. High doses may affect thyroid function.
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 dogs
Low riskPresent in soy-containing pet foods. No clinical toxicity at dietary levels. High doses may affect thyroid function.
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 pets 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
Is genistein safe for pets?
Present in soy-containing pet foods. No clinical toxicity at dietary levels. High doses may affect thyroid function.
See Genistein in the pets app
Look up products containing genistein, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in pets View raw API dataSources (1)
- —
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 →