Seaweed Supports Thyroid Health Maine Coast Sea Vegetables

The myriad variations in iodine concentration between seaweed species, season, and harvest location present challenges to the food industry, since there is limited and conflicting information about how individual seaweeds may impact iodine status and thyroid health. In summary, seaweeds are a source of both fat- and water-soluble vitamins. Seaweed consumption may improve vitamin status; however, characterization of the vitamin content of seaweed is required to improve the development of seaweed supplements, as vitamin content varies with seaweed species, time of harvesting, and geographical location. Moreover, only a limited number of studies in humans, with few participants, have investigated the bioavailability and activity of vitamins obtained from seaweeds. An overview of the amino acid contents of several brown, red, and green seaweeds is presented in Tables S3, S4, and S5 in the Supporting Information online. Before incorporating seaweed into your diet, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional, specifically an endocrinologist or a registered dietitian who specializes in thyroid health.

Recommendations on using seaweed as a source of iodine

The average Laminaria-based supplement contains up to 1,000 micrograms of iodine​10​. Ingestion of iodine at daily levels exceeding 150 micrograms has the potential to cause thyroid disorders​7​. The principal pathway for iodine absorption is through the gut into the bloodstream from where it is carried to the thyroid and some extrathyroidal organs 49.

Abidov et al172 found evidence to support a role for a proprietary product containing brown seaweed fucoxanthin, n-3 fatty acids, and punicic acid to exert antiobesogenic effects. Premenopausal woman with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and premenopausal women with normal liver fat who consumed the fucoxanthin product over 16 weeks showed a significant reduction in body weight, by 5.5kg and 5 kg, respectively, compared with the placebo group. Interpretation of the role of fucoxanthin in this study is confounded by the additional components (omega-3 fatty acids, punicic acids derived from pomegranate seed oil) present in the treatment, and thus further study is needed to verify the effects of fucoxanthin alone. According to the British Dietetic Association and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the recommended daily intake of iodine is 150 micrograms in adults (increasing to 200 micrograms in pregnant or breastfeeding adults)​9​. Iodine is present in a range of foods and is particularly rich in dairy products, milk and fish. The concentration of iodine can vary within different seaweed products and can occasionally lead to excessive iodine intake.

Although iodine supplied via seaweed consumption can rectify an iodine deficiency state, the species consumed needs to be monitored to avoid too much brown seaweeds (kelps) producing disorders of thyroid function. In addition, increased iodine deposition in rainfall and intake from seaweed-derived atmospheric gaseous iodine may help offset global iodine deficits. An acute study by Peters et al98 showed that an alginate drink enhanced self-reported satiety and reduced the feeling of hunger in a dose-dependent manner when compared with placebo.

Supports Gut Health

Is undertaking an InterTradeIreland FUSION program between Ulster University and VOYA Products Ltd. By Adrienne DellwoDellwo was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2006 and has over 25 years of experience in health research and writing. Dried seaweed has been dehydrated but will contain more moisture than roasted seaweed.

The Benefits of Seaweed for Thyroid

For the products in our study with declaration of iodine, the concentration was highly variable, ranging from 63 µg/g to 35,000 µg/g for whole food macroalgae and 0.6 µg/g to 3360 µg/g for macroalgae containing foods. With such variations in iodine content and with products without iodine declaration, it is difficult to decide if a product is safe to consume. Macroalgae were most commonly used as a seasoning-/spice-/flavor enhancer.

Further, the Norwegian Committee for Food and Environment has highlighted consumers of macroalgae as a potential risk group for excessive iodine intakes in the Norwegian population 25. The aim of this study is to describe iodine intake and iodine status in a group of macroalgae consumers in Norway, and to report on parameters of thyroid function. We also describe the frequency of habitual macroalgae consumption, where the dietary macroalgae are procured, and the species that are consumed. The median daily iodine intake from food alone was considerably lower than the UIC.

Is it okay to eat seaweed every day?

• However, its iodide-concentrating ability is grossly inferior to that of seaweeds which can concentrate up to 30,000 times that of seawater 29.
• However, excessive consumption can cause hyperthyroidism due to iodine overload.
• If macroalgae are consumed only once a week, the total iodine intake per week may remain low, and the UIC is only representative for a day with consumption of macroalgae.
• Strategies to prevent excessive iodine intake from seaweed food products include the disclosure of iodine content and the provision of cooking instructions on product labeling.

If the thyroid gland is not functioning properly, it will have knock on health issues related to hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or, more commonly, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). We report the case of a previously healthy middle-aged man who developed hypothyroidism due to chronic excessive iodine intake for health benefits. His manifestations resembled those of collagen vascular diseases; however, the diagnosis was successfully made after taking a detailed cheap synthroid food consumption history based on the abnormalities detected on the abdominal X-ray. Previous research on fucoxanthin has focused on its potential as a functional food ingredient to reduce the risk of diabetes and obesity, although the evidence is derived predominantly from in vitro and animal studies. Beppu et al170 reported increased serum HDL-C, non-HDL-C, and total cholesterol, while Jeon et al108 reported decreased serum cholesterol and increased fecal cholesterol following fucoxanthin diets.

Sea Moss Dangers for Thyroid

This is in line with an Irish study, examining iodine content of 19 commonly consumed macroalgae species, where the iodine content between species was highly variable 37. For the species with the highest iodine content, sugar kelp, only 0.04 g was required to meet the daily recommended daily intake of 150 µg 37. This is the first study to examine iodine status and thyroid function among macroalgae consumers in Norway, thereby providing new insights into an area of limited research. The urine samples in this study were collected with a predetermined time-interval (3–4 h and 7–8 h) after consumption of macroalgae. These time intervals were chosen based on the investigation of urinary iodine excretion in humans after consumption of Ascophyllum nodosum, 27.

However, as salt iodization is not always mandatory, or even available, additional iodine supplementation may be required, and intake needs to be continuously monitored 6, 7. While promoting increased dietary iodine intake is useful in correcting iodine deficiency, this cannot be an open-ended process as too much iodine can produce deleterious effects on thyroid function 8. In the marine environment, seaweeds − marine algae, form the major supplier of iodine 9. The iodine content of seaweed and its chemical form varies with different species but is generally greater in brown seaweeds (kelps) than the green or red varieties 9. The use of seaweed in Asian cooking has been long established and is enjoying increasing popularity in the Western diet 10. Iodine derived from seaweed intake can be taken up through a number of routes.