Seaweed, the Food Matrix, and Iodine Bioavailability

Iodine deficiency can have serious consequences, especially during pregnancy and lactation where the fetus is entirely dependent on its mother for the provision of iodine. There is no current iodine fortification programme in the United Kingdom, and the main sources of iodine are from dietary sources, such as dairy products and seafood. However, seaweed is also a rich source of iodine; the inclusion of iodine (via powdered seaweed) in commonly consumed foods is of potential benefit as a strategy, as it removes the need for consumers to alter their dietary behaviours, which are often culturally standardized.

Seaweed intake (via supplements) can increase the iodine status of women with habitually low-iodine diets. However, reduced bioavailability of iodine from the seaweed matrix has also been displayed, which could impact iodine intake should individuals choose to use seaweed as a dietary source of iodine.

This study tests the influence of the food matrix of seaweed-containing products on iodine bioavailability. This will be evaluated over the course of 27 days, in a randomized crossover trial design with 4 arms. Each arm will be separated by 7 washout days, and participants will follow a low iodine diet (avoiding all seafood, seaweed products, eggs, dairy, fortified plant milk and goitrogens (cabbage, soy etc.) for the 2 days preceding and the 1 day following each feed.

1. Food arm: portion equivalent to 200µg of iodine, half a pizza (Eat Balanced pizza) (consumed with ~450mL of water)
2. Seaweed sheet arm: portion equivalent to 200µg of iodine, ~10g of seaweed sheets (consumed alongside 2 slices of white bread and ~450mL of water)
3. Seaweed powder arm: portion equivalent to 200µg of iodine, 1 capsule (consumed alongside 2 slices of white bread and ~450mL of water).
4. Potassium iodide supplement arm: portion equivalent to 200µg of iodine with ~450mL of water (Piping Rock Potassium Iodide Supplement, consumed alongside 2 slices of white bread)

Iodine excretion will be monitored in urine collected during the 12 hours preceding and 36 hours following the meal. Urine will be collected in 8 timed fractions (0-1h, 1-2h, 2-3h, 3-5h, 5-8h, 8-12h, 12-24h, 24-36h) and participants will be provided with containers and instructions on how to collect their urine. A single fecal sample will also be collected before the first feed, and within 24 hours of all feeds. Participants will also keep a detailed food diary on all study days to enable iodine ingestion monitoring.