Scottish seaweed could help solve UK iodine insufficiency problem

Including seaweed in the diet could help reduce iodine insufficiency, a current problem in the UK population, according to a new study. A lack of iodine in the diet across the UK population and around the world is now a prominent health issue, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), due to low intakes of dairy and sea food where the nutrient is typically found. A new study, led by Dr Emilie Combet at the University of Glasgow, looked at the potential for seaweed - a rich source of the chemical - to help British women reach the recommended daily iodine intake. The study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, used specially-prepared Scottish seaweed in the form of a supplement. In the acute part of the study, the iodine from seaweed was released at lower level and over a longer period compared with iodine from potassium iodide. This is due to the seaweed food matrix, meaning a sustained release of the nutrient over time. The seaweed was also taken daily by 42 non-pregnant women, who habitually consumed little iodine.