How Much Kelp Should You Take for Hypothyroidism?
Your thyroid gland helps regulate your metabolism and the amount of calcium in your body by secreting of iodine-containing hormones. An insufficient amount of iodine in your diet can cause hypothyroidism. Kelp is a type of seaweed that provides a rich source of iodine. An iodine deficiency is not the only cause of hypothyroidism, and self-medicating with kelp for hypothyroidism is not safe. For a correct diagnosis of the cause of your hypothyroidism, consult a doctor.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism means your thyroid gland is underactive and cannot produce the amount of hormones required for normal body function 4. The symptoms of hypothyroidism vary depending on the severity and duration of your condition. Hypothyroid symptoms tend to develop gradually over several years, according to information from the Mayo Clinic, and may worsen without medical treatment. Hypothyroidism symptoms include:
- fatigue
- heavier-than-normal menstruation
- weight gain
- depression
- elevated blood cholesterol levels
- brittle fingernails
- Hypothyroidism means your thyroid gland is underactive and cannot produce the amount of hormones required for normal body function 4.
- Hypothyroid symptoms tend to develop gradually over several years, according to information from the Mayo Clinic, and may worsen without medical treatment.
Iodine Deficiency
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A severe iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism, and kelp provides a natural source of this important mineral. If a doctor diagnoses an iodine deficiency as the cause of your hypothyroidism, taking kelp supplements may improve your condition, according to information provided by Dr. Todd B. Nippoldt of the Mayo Clinic 2. However, he explains that iodine deficiency is rare in developed countries like the U.S. because salt and other foods are fortified with iodine to ensure the population gets the recommended dietary allowance of 150 mcg per day. Hypothyroid patients should not self-medicate with iodine supplements and should consult their doctor before adding extra iodine to their diet.
- A severe iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism, and kelp provides a natural source of this important mineral.
- If a doctor diagnoses an iodine deficiency as the cause of your hypothyroidism, taking kelp supplements may improve your condition, according to information provided by Dr. Todd B. Nippoldt of the Mayo Clinic 2.
Unreliable Iodine Content
If you need iodine for hypothyroidism, your doctor will tell you how much you should take. The Langone Medical Center warns that dietary supplements containing kelp are unreliable sources of iodine 3. Kelp comes from the ocean and several factors, including harvest location and ocean temperatures, affect the amount of iodine in kelp. In fact, the amount of iodine in one kelp capsule can vary from 45 to 57,000 mcg – a level far above the RDA of 150 mcg – according to the Langone Medical Center 3. The Center warns that taking excessive doses iodine unnecessarily may make hypothyroidism worse and not better.
Considerations
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Kelp adds iodine to your diet. High levels of iodine in your diet pose a serious risk to your health, according to a warning by Health Canada. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with thyroid disease have a higher risk than the general population. It warns that excessive iodine intake may cause an enlarged thyroid gland in unborn babies, which can result in obstructed breathing. If you think you have hypothyroidism, consult with your doctor for safe treatment options. Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to heart disease and infertility.
- Kelp adds iodine to your diet.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with thyroid disease have a higher risk than the general population.
Related Articles
References
- University of Michigan Health System: Kelp
- MayoClinic.com; Hypothyroidism: Should I Take Kelp Supplements?; Todd B. Nippoldt; April 2010
- Langone Medical Center; Kelp; August 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid): Symptoms; June 2010
- Health Canada; Health Canada Warns Consumers Not To Use Trophic Kelp and Glutamic Acid HCl Due To Health Risk; May 2008
- Ahad F, Ganie SA. Iodine, Iodine metabolism and Iodine deficiency disorders revisited. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2010;14(1):13-17.
- Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). Understanding thyroid tests. Updated 2018.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2001) Chapter 1: Dietary Reference Intake for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Nutrient Recommendations: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). Bethesda, Maryland: NIH.
- Yarrington C, Pearce EN. Iodine and pregnancy. J Thyroid Res. 2011;2011:934104. doi:10.4061/2011/934104
- Office of Dietary Supplements: National Institutes of Health. Iodine: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Bethesda, Maryland. Updated September 26, 2018.
- Andersson M, Karumbunathan V, Zimmermann MB. Global iodine status in 2011 and trends over the past decade. J Nutr. 2012;142(4):744-50. doi:10.3945/jn.111.149393
- Pearce EN. The American Thyroid Association: statement on universal salt iodization. Thyroid. 2017;27(2):137. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0678
- Luo Y, Kawashima A, Ishido Y, et al. Iodine excess as an environmental risk factor for autoimmune thyroid disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2014;15(7):12895-912. doi:10.3390/ijms150712895
- Sun X, Shan Z, Teng W. Effects of increased iodine intake on thyroid disorders. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2014;29(3):240-7. doi:10.3803/EnM.2014.29.3.240
- Connelly KJ, Boston BA, Pearce EN, et al. Congenital hypothyroidism caused by excess prenatal maternal iodine ingestion. J Pediatr. 2012;161(4):760-2. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.05.057
- American Thyroid Association. Iodine deficiency.
- Teng W, Shan Z, Teng X, et al. Effect of iodine intake on thyroid diseases in China. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:2783-93. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa054022.
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Writer Bio
Victoria Weinblatt began writing articles in 2007, contributing to The Huffington Post and other websites. She is a certified yoga instructor, group fitness instructor and massage therapist. Weinblatt received her B.S. in natural resources from Michigan State University and an M.Ed. from Shenandoah University.