Glycitein is an O-methylated isoflavone which accounts for 5-10% of the total isoflavones in soy food products. Glycitein is a phytoestrogen with weak estrogenic activity, comparable to that of the other soy isoflavones. Like other isoflavonoids, glycitein is synthesized as a glycoside conjugate to a monosaccharide. The glycoside is hydrolyzed during digestion to the biologically-active free isoflavonoid.