Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Kelp use in patients with thyroid cancer

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Endocrine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To report on the incidence and use of kelp among patients with thyroid cancer. Data were collected using a web-based online anonymous survey under Institutional Review Board approval from Boston University. This report is based on 27 responses from subjects with thyroid cancer who use kelp. Demographic factors and complementary and alternative use were included. Respondents were primarily over age 40, white, female and have at least a high school education. The top five modalities were multivitamins, special diets, herbal supplements, prayer for health reasons and herbal tea. Only one patient reported perceiving a particular modality had a negative effect on treatment. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was more often perceived as being used to aid their thyroid cancer treatment than to help with symptoms. On average, respondents who use kelp also use at least 11 additional CAM modalities. Only 1/2 of respondents who use kelp reported telling their physicians about their CAM use, and nearly 1/3 of respondents reported their CAM use was neither known, prescribed nor asked about by their physicians. In comparison to both national surveys of the general US population and patients with thyroid cancer, kelp users with thyroid cancer use at least twice the number of additional CAM therapies and report their use far less often. Physicians who treat patients with thyroid cancer should be aware of these data to further assist in their assessment and care.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

IRB:

Institutional Review Board

CAM:

Complementary and alternative medicine

US:

United States

NCCAM:

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

μg:

Micrograms

TSH:

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

TgAb:

Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies

TG:

Thyroglobulin

EBRT:

External beam radiation therapy

References

  1. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Herbs at a Glance

  2. F.W. Clements, Health significance of endemic goitre and related conditions. Monogr. Ser. World Health Organ. 44, 235–260 (1960)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. J. Teas, S. Pino, A. Critchley, L.E. Braverman, Variability of iodine content in common commercially available edible seaweeds. Thyroid Off. J. Am. Thyroid Assoc. 14(10), 836–841 (2004). doi:10.1089/thy.2004.14.836

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. (2001)

  5. T. Michikawa, M. Inoue, T. Shimazu, N. Sawada, M. Iwasaki, S. Sasazuki, T. Yamaji, S. Tsugane, Seaweed consumption and the risk of thyroid cancer in women: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study. Eur. J. Cancer Prev. 21(3), 254–260 (2012). doi:10.1097/CEJ.0b013e32834a8042

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. S.M. Arum, X. He, L.E. Braverman, Excess iodine from an unexpected source. N. Engl. J. Med. 360(4), 424–426 (2009). doi:10.1056/NEJMc0807580

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. P. Smyth, G. Cloughley, C. Clarke, D. Smith, E. Burbridge, Iodine and differentiated thyroid cancer: pathogenetic and therapeutic implications. Hormones (Athens) 8(3), 192–198 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. J. Teas, L.E. Braverman, M.S. Kurzer, S. Pino, T.G. Hurley, J.R. Hebert, Seaweed and soy: companion foods in Asian cuisine and their effects on thyroid function in American women. J. Med. Food 10(1), 90–100 (2007). doi:10.1089/jmf.2005.056

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. B.A. Crawford, C.T. Cowell, P.J. Emder, D.L. Learoyd, E.L. Chua, J. Sinn, M.M. Jack, Iodine toxicity from soy milk and seaweed ingestion is associated with serious thyroid dysfunction. Med. J. Aust. 193(7), 413–415 (2010)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. B.C. Eliason, Transient hyperthyroidism in a patient taking dietary supplements containing kelp. J. Am. Board Fam. Pract. 11(6), 478–480 (1998)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. R.B. Saper, S.N. Kales, J. Paquin, M.J. Burns, D.M. Eisenberg, R.B. Davis, R.S. Phillips, Heavy metal content of ayurvedic herbal medicine products. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 292(23), 2868–2873 (2004). doi:10.1001/jama.292.23.2868

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. R.B. Saper, R.S. Phillips, A. Sehgal, N. Khouri, R.B. Davis, J. Paquin, V. Thuppil, S.N. Kales, Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US- and Indian-manufactured ayurvedic medicines sold via the internet. JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc. 300(8), 915–923 (2008). doi:10.1001/jama.300.8.915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. A.M. Leung, L.E. Braverman, Iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction. Curr. Opin. Endocrinol. Diabetes Obes. 19(5), 414–419 (2012). doi:10.1097/MED.0b013e3283565bb2

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. C.D. Clark, B. Bassett, M.R. Burge, Effects of kelp supplementation on thyroid function in euthyroid subjects. Endocr. Pract. 9(5), 363–369 (2003)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. K. Miyai, T. Tokushige, M. Kondo, Suppression of thyroid function during ingestion of seaweed “Kombu” (Laminaria japonoca) in normal Japanese adults. Endocr. J. 55(6), 1103–1108 (2008)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. P.M. Barnes, B. Bloom, R.L. Nahin, Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007. Natl Health Stat Rep 10(12), 1–23 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  17. J.M. Fouladbakhsh, M. Stommel, B.A. Given, C.W. Given, Predictors of use of complementary and alternative therapies among patients with cancer. Oncol. Nurs. Forum 32(6), 1115–1122 (2005). doi:10.1188/05.ONF.1115-1122

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. B. Cassileth, Gerson regimen. Oncology (Williston Park) 24(2), 201 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  19. H.M. Park, S.Y. Kim, I.C. Jung, Y.W. Lee, C.K. Cho, H.S. Yoo, Integrative tumor board: a case report and discussion from East-West Cancer Center. Integr. Cancer Ther. 9(2), 236–245 (2010). doi:10.1177/1534735410371479

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. L.W. Corbin, B.K. Mellis, B.L. Beaty, J.S. Kutner, The use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies by patients with advanced cancer and pain in a hospice setting: a multicentered, descriptive study. J. Palliat. Med. 12(1), 7–8 (2009)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. E. Ben-Arye, M. Frenkel, G. Bar-Sela, R.S. Margalit, D. Hermoni, A. Kuten, Teaching complementary medicine at an academic oncology department. J. Cancer Educ. 23(1), 46–50 (2008). doi:10.1080/08858190701821261

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. E. Ernst, Massage therapy for cancer palliation and supportive care: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Support. Care Cancer 17(4), 333–337 (2009)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. C.L. Carpenter, P.A. Ganz, L. Bernstein, Complementary and alternative therapies among very long-term breast cancer survivors. Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 116(2), 387–396 (2009)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. J. Rosen, P. Gardiner, R.B. Saper, A. Filippelli, L.F. White, E.N. Pearce, R. Gupta-Lawrence, S.L. Lee, Complementary and alternative medicine use among patients with thyroid cancer. Thyroid Off. J. Am. Thyroid Assoc. (2013). doi:10.1089/thy.2012.0495

  25. D.M. Eisenberg, R.C. Kessler, C. Foster, F.E. Norlock, D.R. Calkins, T.L. Delbanco, Unconventional medicine in the United States. Prevalence, costs, and patterns of use. N. Engl. J. Med. 328(4), 246–252 (1993). doi:10.1056/NEJM199301283280406

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. K. Tasaki, G. Maskarinec, D.M. Shumay, Y. Tatsumura, H. Kakai, Communication between physicians and cancer patients about complementary and alternative medicine: exploring patients’ perspectives. Psycho-Oncology 11(3), 212–220 (2002). doi:10.1002/pon.552

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. M.H. Cohen, D.M. Eisenberg, Potential physician malpractice liability associated with complementary and integrative medical therapies. Ann. Intern. Med. 136(8), 596–603 (2002)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. K.J. Kemper, A. Amata-Kynvi, L. Dvorkin, J.S. Whelan, A. Woolf, R.C. Samuels, P. Hibberd, Herbs and other dietary supplements: healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Altern. Ther. Health Med. 9(3), 42–49 (2003)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. D.S. Cooper, G.M. Doherty, B.R. Haugen, R.T. Kloos, S.L. Lee, S.J. Mandel, E.L. Mazzaferri, B. McIver, F. Pacini, M. Schlumberger, S.I. Sherman, D.L. Steward, R.M. Tuttle, Revised American Thyroid Association management guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid 19(11), 1167–1214 (2009). doi:10.1089/thy.2009.0110

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. N. Konno, H. Makita, K. Yuri, N. Iizuka, K. Kawasaki, Association between dietary iodine intake and prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in the coastal regions of Japan. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 78(2), 393–397 (1994)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict interests

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Boston University, 820 Harrison Avenue Suite 5007, Boston, MA, 02118, USA

    Jennifer E. Rosen, Kallista Hammer & Rebecca L. Gupta-Lawrence

  2. Department of Family Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Paula Gardiner & Robert B. Saper

  3. Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Elizabeth N. Pearce & Stephanie L. Lee

Authors
  1. Jennifer E. Rosen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paula Gardiner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Robert B. Saper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Elizabeth N. Pearce
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kallista Hammer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Rebecca L. Gupta-Lawrence
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Stephanie L. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer E. Rosen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rosen, J.E., Gardiner, P., Saper, R.B. et al. Kelp use in patients with thyroid cancer. Endocrine 46, 123–130 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-013-0048-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-013-0048-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation