Seaweed For Thyroid Health: Unlocks Its Surprising 7 Benefits

Iodine is an essential nutrient to maintain good health as it is a key component of certain thyroid hormones. All seaweed is high in iodine, which means only a little is required to achieve recommended intake levels. Conversely, excessive consumption of seaweed could result in elevated iodine intake, which carries health concerns.

Seaweed’s nutritional benefits

• Multiple reviews also report that seaweed positively impacts blood sugar levels, especially in people with type 2 diabetes.
• The principal species of seaweeds are Phaeophyceae (brown), Rhodophyta (red), and Chlorophyta (green).
• The reported food intakes were multiplied with the iodine concentration for each specified food to obtain the estimated iodine intake.
• Many types of seaweed are available online and in stores, especially in Asian markets.

In the U.S., mild to moderate iodine deficiency is common and appears to be increasing despite the use of iodized salt. Experts blame this on dietary patterns such as decreased salt intake and vegetarian diets, and on agricultural practices that lead to iodine deficient soils. One easy way to help ensure adequate iodine intake is to include sea vegetables in your diet on a regular basis. They can be used as a salt substitute or in addition to regular table salt on just about anything…soups, salads, sandwiches, and dips to name a few. Meanwhile, J.F. Coindet, a Swiss physician, was using seaweed to treat goiter. It’s often caused by iodine deficiency, though people didn’t know that at the time.

Seaweed for Thyroid Health

Even short-term supplementation with kelp or seaweed — especially at levels of more than 150 micrograms of iodine per day — can cause temporary hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis—excess levels of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream (32-35). In this case report, the consumption of sea kelp and consequent excessive daily intake of iodine proved to negatively impact the patient’s thyroid function, resulting in overt hypothyroidism. It is clear that the daily iodine intake of the case study patient exceeded the daily recommended intake and has adversely affected her thyroid function. Studies on population iodine status might be re-evaluated to determine the relevance of dwelling in proximity to abundant algal growths rather than simply coastal dwelling. The ability to take up by respiration or otherwise gaseous iodine released from seaweeds, living or dead, needs further elucidation using animal/human or in vitro studies.

Assessment of Iodine Intake

While the evidence from observational studies reviewed here may indicate potential benefits, the outcomes must be viewed with considerable caution. Randomized controlled trials with suitable biomarkers, as well as supportive in vitro and in vivo animal studies, are warranted to verify previous observations and eludicate the mechanisms of action of edible seaweeds in humans. While regulatory bodies have attempted to provide guidance about arsenic intake, there is a need for clearer regulation and guidance regarding the permissible arsenic content of foods. Through an evaluation of the nutritional composition of edible seaweeds, this review summarizes the available evidence and outlines the potential risks and health benefits of consuming whole seaweeds, extracted bioactive components, and seaweed-based food products in humans. Additionally, it identifies future opportunities for functional food and nutraceutical applications.

Bioavailability of iodine from macroalgae in humans is estimated to vary from 50 to 100% 22,38,39. However, factors such as iodine status and current thyroid function may also be of importance for iodine uptake in humans 36. Iodine plays a crucial role in the production of thyroid hormones, and its deficiency can contribute to the manifestation and progression of hypothyroidism. Incorporating seaweed into one’s diet can provide a natural source of iodine, potentially supporting thyroid health. However, it is essential to approach seaweed consumption cautiously, as discussed in this article.

It is estimated that average buy synthroid daily iodine intake is 1,000-3,000ug, which is distinctively higher than most other countries. Japanese people have high life expectancy and show low rates of certain types of cancer 21, although it is difficult to attribute this specifically to iodine or seaweed consumption. According to a review of global iodine status in 2011 7, 1.9 billion people do not consume enough iodine, including 241 million school-age children. When considering iodine intake in a country or region, the average across the population can hide deficiencies in certain cohorts. For example, research in Ireland found low iodine status for women of child-bearing age 8. There is evidence of a similar pattern in the UK 2, which is a concern for public health.

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Standard portion sizes for each of the different food items were used 31. In all calculations, iodine concentrations reported in the Norwegian Food Composition Table 32 or in Nerhus et al. 33 were used. We applied values from Nerhus et al. for lean fish, cheese, whey cheese and eggs. To account for iodine contributed by foods and dishes not covered by the assessed food items, 30 µg was added to each estimated total intake as suggested by others 34.

The I24-h included questions about intake of milk and yogurt (number of glasses), cheese, eggs (including dishes), and fish (lean and fatty fish for dinner and/or as spread), as these are the main food items contributing to iodine intake in Norway. Milk and dairy products are together with egg and fish the most important dietary iodine sources in Norway 30 since the cow’s fodder is enriched with iodine. Use of iodized salt by the food industry is not mandatory in Norway, and as the available iodized table salt is only allowed to contain up to 5 µg iodine/g salt, the contribution is neglectable. The reported food intakes were multiplied with the iodine concentration for each specified food to obtain the estimated iodine intake.

Generally, brown seaweed has higher levels of iodine than red and green varieties. Seafood is a source of iodine because the natural content in seawater is relatively high. Dietary intake is also connected to the trace levels of iodine salts in the soil where food is grown.

• Guidance about an individual’s iodine status and how seaweed consumption may benefit the individual could also ensure consumer safety.
• Alginate and other compounds in seaweed bind to sodium and excrete it, which prevents the body from absorbing the sodium and, in turn, prevents sodium from affecting blood pressure.
• Of these, 24 individuals chose not to participate for unknown reasons, leaving 46 participants enrolled by signing and returning the written informed consent form.

A The species reported in the category of mix were dulse, wakame, sugar kelp, badderlocks, bladderwrack and horned wrack. We assessed whether UIC had remained stable, increased or decreased between the first and second urine sample. Based on a measurement uncertainty of 20%, a change larger than ±10% from the first urine sample to the second urine sample was considered as an increase or decrease. Second, treat your selection of kelp flakes and nori sheets like a seasoning – add them to soups, salads and other dishes for a bit of a salty, tangy flavour. Short of going out for sushi every other day, you might be lost as to how to bring seaweed into your diet.