**11. Conclusions and future directions**

It is clear from this review that there are many different tools to study the carbohydrates in soybean plants. Results from any of the various analytical methods can be compared as long as they have been tested with adequate standards. The outstanding carbohydrate found in soybeans is pinitol, part of the inositol family. There has been considerable research into the value of the inositols, but most of the emphasis has been on myo-inositol, probably because it is widely available. However, for the soybean industry, it would be valuable to better understand the role of pinitol in health and nutrition. There are good indications that pinitol may have unique nutritional value, and key roles in soybean plant biology. Future directions should include the use of effective analytical methods to perform more research into the roles of pinitol and related inositols in various fields of nutrition, medicine, and plant biology.
