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Intake of seaweed as part of a single sushi meal, iodine excretion and thyroid function in euthyroid subjects: a randomized dinner study

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Abstract

Objective

Globalisation has extended to the kitchen and the Asian cuisine has gained international popularity with sushi and seaweed now being widespread. We explored the possible acute adverse effects of an iodine load from a single sushi-and-seaweed meal as seaweed iodine may induce thyroid dysfunction.

Methods

Nine euthyroid participants were randomized into three groups: Halibut maki roll with either (A) newly harvested Greenlandic seaweed salad, (B) no seaweed salad on the side, or (C) Japanese seaweed salad purchased at a local store. We collected spot urine and blood samples daily for a week for measurement of iodine and creatinine in urine, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and estimated-free T4 (fT4) in serum.

Results

All participants ingested the full meal and the drop-out was nil. No adverse effects were reported. Pre-meal urinary iodine excretion (UIE) was 75 µg/g. UIE rose (p < 0.001) by 385%, 59% and 43% for groups A, B, and C, peaked in the 6-h spot urine sample at 393, 120, and 109 µg/g, and was down to pre-meal values by day 2. Serum TSH rose (p = 0.012) 150% on day 2 and was down to pre-meal values by day 3. Serum fT4 remained at the same level. No adverse reactions were reported.

Conclusion

A sushi meal increased urinary iodine excretion by 40 µg/g, or 400 µg/g if a newly harvested seaweed salad was added. An ensuing rise in serum TSH was brief, and a single sushi meal with seaweed salad did not cause any adverse events.

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Funding

This work was supported by grants from Greenland Government and by Karen Elise Jensen Fond. They had no role in the design, analysis or writing of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Queen Ingrid’s Hospital, Nuuk, Greenland

    P. Noahsen, I. Kleist, H. M. Larsen & S. Andersen

  2. Nuuk Healthcare Centre, Sanamut Aqquttaa, Box 1001, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland

    P. Noahsen

  3. Department of Clinical Medicine, Arctic Health Research Centre, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    P. Noahsen, I. Kleist & S. Andersen

  4. Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland

    P. Noahsen & S. Andersen

  5. Department of Geriatric and Internal Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

    S. Andersen

  6. Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    H. M. Larsen

Authors
  1. P. Noahsen
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  2. I. Kleist
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  3. H. M. Larsen
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  4. S. Andersen
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Contributions

PN: contributed to study design, did the cooking, contributed to data collection, analysis of data, interpretation of data, and writing of the manuscript. IK: contributed to cooking, data collection, and critical review of the manuscript. HML: contributed to data collection and critical review of the manuscript. SA: contributed to study design, raising of funds, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, and writing of the manuscript. PN (the manuscript’s guarantor) affirms that this manuscript is an honest, accurate, and transparent account of the study being reported; that no important aspects of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned and registered have been explained.

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Correspondence to P. Noahsen.

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The manuscript has only been submitted to your journal. The submitted work is original and has not been published elsewhere in any form or language. Results are presented honestly and without fabrication, falsification or data manipulation. No data, text, or theories by others are presented as if they were the author’s own.

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Noahsen, P., Kleist, I., Larsen, H.M. et al. Intake of seaweed as part of a single sushi meal, iodine excretion and thyroid function in euthyroid subjects: a randomized dinner study. J Endocrinol Invest 43, 431–438 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-019-01122-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-019-01122-6

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