Transient Hyperthyroidism following the ingestion of complementary medications containing kelp seaweed: A case-report
However, you should use caution when taking kelp supplements, because the iodine they contain can cause adverse health and safety effects, including iodine overdose. We describe a case of dysfunction following the ingestion of a marketed diet containing natural components, including kelp, a type of seaweed known for its rich iodine content and Lentinus edodes also known as ‘shiitake mushroom’ or ‘black forest mushroom’. Edodes, has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, whereas some polysaccharides present in this type of mycete, displayed some anti-inflammatory activity.
Can Hypothyroidism Be Cured?
- Kelp supplements may also slow blood clotting, impair fertility and interact with other medications and supplements.
- It is always important to follow dosing instructions on the bottle no matter what supplement you are taking, but it is especially important with kelp.
- Iodine is present in a range of foods and is particularly rich in dairy products, milk and fish.
- Earlier reports have suggested that living near the sea confers advantages in terms of population iodine status.
In the UK, levothyroxine is the most commonly used medication to correct this deficiency1. Treatment is usually lifelong to allow the body to normalise the amount of thyroid hormone continuously. The dose can vary over time and is usually monitored and adjusted according to the thyroid function tests (thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH and thyroxine T4 levels)1. Although the concentration of iodine in seawater is relatively low (approx. 58 µg/L) 26, its massive abundance makes it the major source of iodine on the planet. Iodine in sea water is mainly present as I− and IO3, with I− predominating in surface waters while IO3 forms the greatest synthroid purchase proportion in deep water 27.
- For 3 months, she ingested 336 mcg iodine daily from complementary medication (Table 3).
- Studies linking seaweed intake to breast cancer prevalence are discussed as is the role of gaseous iodine released from seaweeds influencing weather patterns and contributing to iodine intake in coastal populations.
- Whether it’s sushi rolls, seaweed salad, sheets of dried nori, or capsule supplements, there’s no shortage of opportunities to increase your seaweed intake.
- Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, refers to a condition where the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones, resulting in a slowdown of the body’s metabolism.
Publication types
Different seaweeds grow at different tidal levels with the result that some will be uncovered by seawater for longer or shorter times which will also be determined by tidal conditions, high or low tides 11. Both living and decaying seaweeds release iodine into the atmosphere but also into surrounding seawater thus contributing to global iodine fluxes 68. Coastal seaweed-rich areas are responsible for most of this iodine although oceanic phytoplankton also play a role 11. Iodine vapour condenses to form nuclear clusters which can coalesce to produce new particles leading to aerosol and cloud formation affecting climate change 11. The clouds so formed provide a heat shield contributing to global cooling by partially offsetting global warming due to greenhouse gases. Gaseous iodine formed over a seaweed bed is often short lived and subject to photolysis by sunlight and dispersion by wind.
Administration of high-dose (approx. 100 mg) KI or KIO3 tablets is used for blocking the uptake of RAI in the event of a nuclear accident. It can be speculated that the consequences of RAI uptake and future thyroid cancers following the 2011 Fukushima accident would have been much worse in a population other than seaweed-consuming iodine replete Japanese 48. “Some authors have suggested that excessive seaweed consumption may itself result in chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis,” observes the ETJ.
Of the brown seaweeds, Laminaria digitata had the highest inorganic As levels 63. The prevalence of obesity has continuously increased over the last few years becoming a public health problem. However, a greater number of obese and overweight people are utilizing complementary and herbal slimming medicines. Provides a detailed discussion on how patients and clinicians can approach the identified drug interaction as well as offers guidance on what to expect and strategies to potentially mitigate the effects of the interaction. This may include recommendations on adjusting medication dosages, altering the timing of drug administration, or closely monitoring for specific symptoms. B)The typical iodine content of kelp is listed as 0.15 milligram (mg) per tablet.
After 1 month of treatment, the thyroid hormone levels returned to normal, and the Methimazole dose was reduced to 10 mg/day. After another month of drug therapy, the Methimazole dose was reduced to 5 mg/day. Following 3 months of drug therapy, the treatment was discontinued, and the patient maintained thyroid hormones within normal range. A 45-years-old woman presented to the outpatient clinic for mild anterior neck pain. Previous endocrine tests revealed thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) plasma levels within the normal range and absence of thyroid autoimmunity. A detailed medical history revealed that 1 month before, she self-treated to weight loss for a period of 10 days by a nutrition product (Starguo Menu, Beijing Green World Nutrition Health Products Co, Ltd, Beijing, China; box 1).
He had a positive test for antithyroid microsomal antibody suggestive of thyroid autoimmune processes. Within 3 months of iodide restriction, serum T4 level and TSH level normalized . You can learn more about hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid functioning, diagnostic testing and thyroid treatment in our Guide to Thyroid Hormones. In this 25-page downloadable PDF publication you will learn why some people do not do well on levothyroxine (Synthroid) prescriptions and why some people need both T3 and T4 supplementation. You will also learn why taking your thyroid supplement at night before bed might be more effective than taking it around breakfast time. Your years of avoiding iodized salt may have resulted in an inadequate iodine intake for you, though.
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On social media, Mary empowers and informs a community of more than a quarter million patients who have thyroid and hormonal health challenges. The hormonal profile was of overt hyperthyroidism, she was negative antithyroid-stimulating hormone receptor AB and also for antithyroid peroxidase (antiTPO) and antithyroglobulin (anti-TG) AB (Table 1). L-T4, indicates whether the patient was treated with levothyroxine 1.2 μg/kg/day. The theorized or clinically determined reason (i.e., mechanism) why the drug-drug interaction occurs.
- Worldwide,about 30% of the population, which is about 1,900 million people, has an inadequate iodine intake (1).
- However, the bioaccumulation of arsenic is a concern with continuous seaweed consumption.
- Complementary medications and herbal medicine for weight loss have become very popular.
- An excess of iodine can also lead to Grave’s disease, thyroid cancer and toxic levels of thyroid hormones.
- In Table 3, we show the iodine concentrations of ENsolutions available in Japan.
Iodine Deficiency
Uncontrolled hypothyroidism aggravated by ingestion of sea kelp, a herbal supplement high in iodine content. Primary causes of hypothyroidism are most common and include conditions that directly impact the thyroid gland and result in reduced production of thyroid hormones. Secondary causes are less common and owe to failure in the pituitary gland resulting from another condition, such as a pituitary tumour. Kelp supplements are sometimes used to help treat thyroid disorders, but dosages vary. It is always important to follow dosing instructions on the bottle no matter what supplement you are taking, but it is especially important with kelp. Discuss kelp supplementation with your doctor before using it — he may recommend a specific brand and dose, or tell you to avoid it completely.
The prevalence of obesity has increased over the past few years, becoming a public health problem. Generally, the primary therapeutic remedies are diet, physical exercise, medication, and bariatric surgery. However, an increased number of obese and overweight people are using complementary and herbal slimming supplements. We’re glad you worked with your doctor and got good results, but we don’t generally recommend this approach. Too much iodine can trigger hyperthyroidism and that can be a very dangerous situation. Kelp supplements can cause decreased thyroid function (hypothyroidism) in some people due to the high iodine content.