TY - JOUR

T1 - Iodine Status and Thyroid Function in a Group of Seaweed Consumers in Norway

AU - Aakre, Inger

AU - Evensen, Lidunn Tveito

AU - Kjellevold, Marian

AU - Dahl, Lisbeth

AU - Henjum, Sigrun

AU - Alexander, Jan

AU - Madsen, Lise

AU - Markhus, Maria Wik

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Seaweeds, or macroalgae, may be a good dietary iodine source but also a source of excessive iodine intake. The main aim in this study was to describe the iodine status and thyroid function in a group of macroalgae consumers. Two urine samples were collected from each participant (n = 44) to measure urinary iodine concentration (UIC) after habitual consumption of seaweed. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), free triiodothyronine (fT3), and peroxidase autoantibody (TPOAb), were measured in a subgroup (n = 19). A food frequency questionnaire and an iodine-specific 24 h recall were used to assess iodine intake and macroalgae consumption. The median (p25–p75) UIC was 1200 (370–2850) µg/L. Median (p25–p75) estimated dietary iodine intake, excluding macroalgae, was 110 (78–680) µg/day, indicating that seaweed was the major contributor to the iodine intake. TSH levels were within the reference values, but higher than in other comparable population groups. One third of the participants used seaweeds daily, and sugar kelp, winged kelp, dulse and laver were the most common species. Labelling of iodine content was lacking for a large share of the products consumed. This study found excessive iodine status in macroalgae consumers after intake of dietary seaweeds. Including macroalgae in the diet may give excessive iodine exposure, and consumers should be made aware of the risk associated with inclusion of macroalgae in their diet.

AB - Seaweeds, or macroalgae, may be a good dietary iodine source but also a source of excessive iodine intake. The main aim in this study was to describe the iodine status and thyroid function in a group of macroalgae consumers. Two urine samples were collected from each participant (n = 44) to measure urinary iodine concentration (UIC) after habitual consumption of seaweed. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), free triiodothyronine (fT3), and peroxidase autoantibody (TPOAb), were measured in a subgroup (n = 19). A food frequency questionnaire and an iodine-specific 24 h recall were used to assess iodine intake and macroalgae consumption. The median (p25–p75) UIC was 1200 (370–2850) µg/L. Median (p25–p75) estimated dietary iodine intake, excluding macroalgae, was 110 (78–680) µg/day, indicating that seaweed was the major contributor to the iodine intake. TSH levels were within the reference values, but higher than in other comparable population groups. One third of the participants used seaweeds daily, and sugar kelp, winged kelp, dulse and laver were the most common species. Labelling of iodine content was lacking for a large share of the products consumed. This study found excessive iodine status in macroalgae consumers after intake of dietary seaweeds. Including macroalgae in the diet may give excessive iodine exposure, and consumers should be made aware of the risk associated with inclusion of macroalgae in their diet.

KW - Food and nutrition security

KW - Iodine

KW - Iodine excess

KW - New marine resources

KW - Seaweed

KW - Thyroid function

KW - Urinary iodine status

U2 - 10.3390/nu12113483

DO - 10.3390/nu12113483

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33202773

AN - SCOPUS:85096348540

VL - 12

JO - Nutrients

JF - Nutrients

SN - 2072-6643

IS - 11

M1 - 3483

ER -