Kelp Benefits and Side Effects
Kelp [Ascophyllum nodosum, Laminaria digitata]
Kelp is one of the brown seaweeds; it is also a source of iodine,
potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron. Some people use kelp
as iodine supplements for hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones
are important to maintain normal cell metabolism. Some
marketers suggest kelp may help improve metabolism,
regardless the limited evidence for such benefit claim.
Health Benefits of Kelp
People avoiding sea foods may develop iodine deficiency. Iodine
deficiency can lead to low thyroid function (hypothyroidism),
goiter etc. Epidemiological studies suggest that populations
consuming typical Asian diets have a lower incidence of hormone-
dependent cancers than populations consuming Western diets.
These dietary differences have been mainly attributed to higher
soy intakes among Asians. However, studies of rats and cells
from UC Berkeley suggest that the anti-estrogenic effects of
dietary kelp also may contribute to these reduced cancer rates.
[8] Japanese researchers even claim kelp in Japanese has
prolonging effect of on life span in mice, even though they are
fed with diet containing carcinogen. [9]
Kelp Side Effects
Intake of more than 2000 mcg a day may also lead to
interference of normal thyroid functions and other harmful side
effects. [1-6]
CASE STUDY A 39-year-old woman with multinodular goiter
presented with typical signs of hyperthyroidism. She had been
treated for a period of 4 weeks with a herbal tea containing kelp,
she developed hyperthyroidism. [7]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR
FOR ANY QUESTION OR TAKING KELP SUPPLEMENTS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2006 ZHION.
References 1. Wolff J. Iodide goiter and the pharmacologic effects of excess
iodide. Am J Med 1969;47:101–24. 2. Shilo S, Hirsch HJ. Iodine-induced
hyperthyroidism in a patient with a normal thyroid gland. Postgrad Med J 1986;62:
661–2. 3. Ishizuki Y, Yamauchi K, Miura Y. [Transient thyrotoxicosis induced by
Japanese kombu]. Nippon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi 1989;65:91–8 [in Japanese].
4. Hartman AA. [Hyperthyroidism during administration of kelp tablets (letter)].
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1990;134:1373 [in Dutch]. 5. de Smet PA, Stricker BH,
Wilderink F, Wiersinga WM. [Hyperthyroidism during treatment with kelp tablets].
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1990;134:1058–9 [in Dutch]. 6. Eliason BC. Transient
hyperthyroidism in a patient taking dietary supplements containing kelp. J Am
Board Fam Pract 1998;11:478–80. [7] Mussig K, Thamer C, Bares R, Lipp HP,
Haring HU, Gallwitz B.Iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis after ingestion of kelp-
containing tea. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Jun;21(6):C11-4. [8] Skibola CF, Curry
JD, VandeVoort C, Conley A, Smith MT. Brown kelp modulates endocrine
hormones in female sprague-dawley rats and in human luteinized granulosa cells.
J Nutr. 2005 Feb;135(2):296-300. [9] Sakakibara H, Nakagawa S, Wakameda H,
Nakagiri Y, Kamata K, Das SK, Tsuji T, Kanazawa K. Effects of Japanese kelp
(kombu) on life span of benzo[a]pyrene-fed mice. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo).
2005 Oct;51(5):369-73.
Kelp is one of the brown seaweeds; it is also a source of iodine,
potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron. Some people use kelp
as iodine supplements for hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones
are important to maintain normal cell metabolism. Some
marketers suggest kelp may help improve metabolism,
regardless the limited evidence for such benefit claim.
Health Benefits of Kelp
People avoiding sea foods may develop iodine deficiency. Iodine
deficiency can lead to low thyroid function (hypothyroidism),
goiter etc. Epidemiological studies suggest that populations
consuming typical Asian diets have a lower incidence of hormone-
dependent cancers than populations consuming Western diets.
These dietary differences have been mainly attributed to higher
soy intakes among Asians. However, studies of rats and cells
from UC Berkeley suggest that the anti-estrogenic effects of
dietary kelp also may contribute to these reduced cancer rates.
[8] Japanese researchers even claim kelp in Japanese has
prolonging effect of on life span in mice, even though they are
fed with diet containing carcinogen. [9]
Kelp Side Effects
Intake of more than 2000 mcg a day may also lead to
interference of normal thyroid functions and other harmful side
effects. [1-6]
CASE STUDY A 39-year-old woman with multinodular goiter
presented with typical signs of hyperthyroidism. She had been
treated for a period of 4 weeks with a herbal tea containing kelp,
she developed hyperthyroidism. [7]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR
FOR ANY QUESTION OR TAKING KELP SUPPLEMENTS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2006 ZHION.
References 1. Wolff J. Iodide goiter and the pharmacologic effects of excess
iodide. Am J Med 1969;47:101–24. 2. Shilo S, Hirsch HJ. Iodine-induced
hyperthyroidism in a patient with a normal thyroid gland. Postgrad Med J 1986;62:
661–2. 3. Ishizuki Y, Yamauchi K, Miura Y. [Transient thyrotoxicosis induced by
Japanese kombu]. Nippon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi 1989;65:91–8 [in Japanese].
4. Hartman AA. [Hyperthyroidism during administration of kelp tablets (letter)].
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1990;134:1373 [in Dutch]. 5. de Smet PA, Stricker BH,
Wilderink F, Wiersinga WM. [Hyperthyroidism during treatment with kelp tablets].
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1990;134:1058–9 [in Dutch]. 6. Eliason BC. Transient
hyperthyroidism in a patient taking dietary supplements containing kelp. J Am
Board Fam Pract 1998;11:478–80. [7] Mussig K, Thamer C, Bares R, Lipp HP,
Haring HU, Gallwitz B.Iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis after ingestion of kelp-
containing tea. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Jun;21(6):C11-4. [8] Skibola CF, Curry
JD, VandeVoort C, Conley A, Smith MT. Brown kelp modulates endocrine
hormones in female sprague-dawley rats and in human luteinized granulosa cells.
J Nutr. 2005 Feb;135(2):296-300. [9] Sakakibara H, Nakagawa S, Wakameda H,
Nakagiri Y, Kamata K, Das SK, Tsuji T, Kanazawa K. Effects of Japanese kelp
(kombu) on life span of benzo[a]pyrene-fed mice. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo).
2005 Oct;51(5):369-73.
Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
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