Int J Thyroidol.  2019 Nov;12(2):105-112. 10.11106/ijt.2019.12.2.105.

Association High-Iodine-Containing Seaweed Soup Consumption after Birth and Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Korean Women: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV (2013–2015)

• Kim H
• Lee HN
• Ha J

• KMID: 2465063
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11106/ijt.2019.12.2.105

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
This study was to investigate the association between the previous history of seaweed intake after childbirth and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) occurrence in Korean women based on the latest nationally representative epidemiological survey data, the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study used data from KNHANES VI, a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey that comprises a health interview survey, health examination survey, and nutrition survey. Of the initial 22,948 Korean participants enrolled in KNHANES VI, 2,046 women were selected for this analysis. To examine SCH, the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) reference range was defined using a population-based TSH range.
RESULTS
Subclinical hypothyroidism was increased in those who consumed seaweed soup after childbirth, but this was not significant (OR 1.3, CI: 0.80-2.13, p=0.293). However, the odd ratio for SCH differed according to the duration of seaweed soup consumption. When seaweed soup was consumed within 1 week after birth, the OR was increased in the crude model (OR 2.61, CI: 1.39-4.89, p=0.002), but this was no longer significant in the adjusted model (OR 1.89, CI: 0.79-4.50).
CONCLUSION
The notable finding from this study is that the previous history of excessive seaweed consumption during post-partum period may not be a risk factor for SCH in Korean women.

Keyword

Subclinical hypothyroidism; Iodine; Seaweed

MeSH Terms

Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Hypothyroidism*
Iodine
Korea*
Nutrition Surveys*
Parturition*
Reference Values
Risk Factors
Seaweed*
Thyrotropin
Iodine
Thyrotropin

Reference

1. Cooper DS. Clinical practice. Subclinical hypothyroidism. N Engl J Med. 2001; 345(4):260–265.

2. Hollowell JG, Staehling NW, Flanders WD, Hannon WH, Gunter EW, Spencer CA, et al. Serum TSH, T(4), and thyroid antibodies in the United States population (1988 to 1994): National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002; 87(2):489–499.

3. Kim WG, Kim WB, Woo G, Kim H, Cho Y, Kim TY, et al. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Reference Range and Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction in the Korean Population: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013 to 2015. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2017; 32(1):106–114.

4. Canaris GJ, Manowitz NR, Mayor G, Ridgway EC. The Colorado thyroid disease prevalence study. Arch Intern Med. 2000; 160(4):526–534.

5. Aghini-Lombardi F, Antonangeli L, Martino E, Vitti P, Maccherini D, Leoli F, et al. The spectrum of thyroid disorders in an iodine-deficient community: the Pescopagano survey. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999; 84(2):561–566.

6. Laurberg P, Pedersen KM, Hreidarsson A, Sigfusson N, Iversen E, Knudsen PR. Iodine intake and the pattern of thyroid disorders: a comparative epidemiological study of thyroid abnormalities in the elderly in Iceland and in Jutland, Denmark. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998; 83(3):765–769.

7. Kim YA, Park YJ. Prevalence and risk factors of subclinical thyroid disease. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2014; 29(1):20–29.

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

9. Kim JY, Moon SJ, Kim KR, Sohn CY, Oh JJ. Dietary iodine intake and urinary iodine excretion in normal Korean adults. Yonsei Med J. 1998; 39(4):355–362.

10. WHO. UNICEF. ICCIDD. Assessment of iodine deficiency disorders and monitoring their elimination: A guide for programme managers. 3rd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization;2007.

11. Cho YY, Kim HJ, Oh SY, Choi SJ, Lee SY, Joung JY, et al. Iodine status in healthy pregnant women in Korea: a first report. Eur J Nutr. 2016; 55(2):469–475.

12. Lee SH, Han K, Yang HK, Kim HS, Cho JH, Kwon HS, et al. A novel criterion for identifying metabolically obese but normal weight individuals using the product of triglycerides and glucose. Nutr Diabetes. 2015; 5(4):e149.

13. Tran BT, Jeong BY, Oh JK. The prevalence trend of metabolic syndrome and its components and risk factors in Korean adults: results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2013. BMC Public Health. 2017; 17(1):71.

14. Kim J. Association between serum vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older Korean adults. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2015; 69(4):425–430.

15. Baloch Z, Carayon P, Conte-Devolx B, Demers LM, Feldt-Rasmussen U, Henry JF, et al. Laboratory medicine practice guidelines. Laboratory support for the diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid disease. Thyroid. 2003; 13(1):3–126.

16. Suh S, Kim DK. Subclinical hypothyroidism and cardiovascular disease. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2015; 30(3):246–251.

17. Luboshitzky R, Aviv A, Herer P, Lavie L. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women with subclinical hypothyroidism. Thyroid. 2002; 12(5):421–425.

18. Walsh JP, Bremner AP, Bulsara MK, O'Leary P, Leedman PJ, Feddema P, et al. Subclinical thyroid dysfunction as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Arch Intern Med. 2005; 165(21):2467–2472.

19. Hak AE, Pols HA, Visser TJ, Drexhage HA, Hofman A, Witteman JC. Subclinical hypothyroidism is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction in elderly women: the Rotterdam Study. Ann Intern Med. 2000; 132(4):270–278.

20. Ichiki T. Thyroid hormone and atherosclerosis. Vascul Pharmacol. 2010; 52(3-4):151–156.

21. Surks MI, Ortiz E, Daniels GH, Sawin CT, Col NF, Cobin RH, et al. Subclinical thyroid disease: scientific review and guidelines for diagnosis and management. JAMA. 2004; 291(2):228–238.

22. Vadiveloo T, Donnan PT, Murphy MJ, Leese GP. Age- and gender-specific TSH reference intervals in people with no obvious thyroid disease in Tayside, Scotland: the Thyroid Epidemiology, Audit, and Research Study (TEARS). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013; 98(3):1147–1153.

23. Vanderpump MP, Tunbridge WM, French JM, Appleton D, Bates D, Clark F, et al. The incidence of thyroid disorders in the community: a twenty-year follow-up of the Whickham Survey. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1995; 43(1):55–68.

24. Mahmoud I, Colin I, Many MC, Denef JF. Direct toxic effect of iodide in excess on iodine-deficient thyroid glands: epithelial necrosis and inflammation associated with lipofuscin accumulation. Exp Mol Pathol. 1986; 44(3):259–271.

25. Government NSW. Warning for pregnant and breastfeeding women. 2011. cited July 17, 2019. Available from: http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/publicationsandresources/pdf/publication-pdfs/9120/ahs-9120-eng.pdf/view.

26. Benotti J, Benotti N, Pino S, Gardyna H. Determination of total iodine in urine, stool, diets, and tissue. Clin Chem. 1965; 11(10):932–936.

27. Moon S, Kim J. Iodine content of human milk and dietary iodine intake of Korean lactating mothers. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 1999; 50(3):165–171.

28. Rhee SS, Braverman LE, Pino S, He X, Pearce EN. High iodine content of Korean seaweed soup: a health risk for lactating women and their infants? Thyroid. 2011; 21(8):927–928.

29. Ahad F, Ganie SA. Iodine, Iodine metabolism and Iodine deficiency disorders revisited. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2010; 14(1):13–17.

30. Kim WB, Alavi A, Walsh S, Pope E. Reply to Frane: epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa: a systematic review exploring genotype-phenotype correlation. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2015; 16(4):339.