Skip to content

Seaweed Iodine Delivered Via Food or Supplementation

Iodine From Seaweed - a Randomised Controlled Trial of Food Versus Supplementation in Women With Marginal Habitual Iodine Intake

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04875377
Acronym
INNOVATE
Enrollment
96
Registered
2021-05-06
Start date
2018-02-12
Completion date
2019-09-05
Last updated
2023-01-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Iodine Deficiency

Keywords

iodine, seaweed, supplementation, reformulation, food matrix, thyroid function

Brief summary

In this project, the investigators propose an intervention design testing the efficacy of a food reformulated with seaweed as an ingredient in meal, capsules against placebo and no intervention controls. The randomised control trial (supplementation) will last 24 weeks. The aim is to study the effect of the food matrix on variables associated with iodine nutrition: iodine status and thyroid function.

Detailed description

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in Glasgow, United Kingdom. Inclusion criteria are as follows: healthy premenopausal women aged 18 - 60 years who would remain a resident in Glasgow for 24 weeks; who were self-reported low iodine consumers consuming milk less than once per day and non-oily fish less than once per week. Those with a history of thyroid dysfunction, taking medications other than the contraceptive pill or smoking, as well as pregnant or lactating women and those planning to conceive, were excluded. Those taking dietary supplements containing iodine would also excluded and there was no restriction related to body mass index (BMI). Participants are recruited via social media and advertisements displayed around the Greater Glasgow area. Interested parties are screened and, if eligible, invited to a 30-minute appointment at which participants were randomly assigned through a web-based randomisation service to one of four groups after consent is obtained; reformulated pizza, control pizza, iodine capsules, or placebo capsules. During this initial meeting anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and a venous blood sample are collected, and participants are also asked to complete a sociodemographic questionnaire and an iodine specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Participants are provided with instructions and equipment to record a 3-day estimated food diary and to collect 12 spot urine samples at different times of day over 2-7 days. Upon returning the spot urine samples, participants were given either the pizzas or supplements to begin the intervention. Participants are asked to consume one pizza or supplement three times a week for 24 weeks. Participants are asked to collect a further 10-12 sample spot urine samples at week 2 of the intervention. Participants are asked to attend another 30-minute appointment at 12 and 24 weeks in which baseline measurements are repeated along with a change to diet questionnaire.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTReformulated pizza

Reformulated food with 400ug of iodine per meal, three times per week (to achieve 122% of weekly recommended intakes - average 140ug/day).

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTControl pizza

Control (placebo) meal to consume thrice weekly (no iodine supplementation).

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTSeaweed capsule

Capsules containing seaweed extract, the iodine-rich ingredient in the reformulated pizza, 400ug iodine per capsule, to be consumed three times per week (122% of weekly recommended intake).

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTControl capsule

Empty capsules (placebo)

Sponsors

University of Glasgow
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Masking description

Masking of pizzas was achieved by the use of pizzas with identical appearance and taste. Iodine and control supplements were also identical in appearance. Both pizzas and supplements were provided to investigators already masked. Pizzas labelled X and Y. Supplements labelled A and B

Intervention model description

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* self-reported healthy women * aged 18 to 60 * pre-menopausal * with no history of thyroid dysfunction * without any known allergic reactions to foods * not on medication that impact on absorption of nutrients from the gut * not currently taking dietary / multivitamin supplements (must have discontinued usage 2 weeks prior the start of the study)

Exclusion criteria

* pregnancy * lactation * habitual consumption of seaweed-based products (\>once per week), milk (\>once per day), sea fish, non-oily, e.g. cod (\>once per week) * veganism (as food products contains cheese) * Involvement in another research study where diet is restricted, modified, or dietary habits are studied. * women who have reached menopause.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in urinary iodine concentration (UIC)0, 12 weeksChange in UIC assessed in pooled spot urine samples at 12 weeks, from baseline

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Concentration of thyroid stimulating hormone0, 12, 24 weeksmeasured by immunoassay
Concentration of Free Triiodothyronine0, 12, 24 weeksmeasured by immunoassay
Concentration of Thyroxine0, 12, 24 weeksmeasured by immunoassay
Dietary iodine intake0, 12, 24 weeksestimated by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)
Change in urinary iodine concentration (UIC)0, 2 weeksChange in UIC assessed in pooled spot urine samples at 2 weeks, from baseline
Changes in body weight0, 12, 24 weeksChanges in body weight assessed from baseline at 12 and 24 weeks
Changes in body mass index0, 12, 24 weeksChanges in body mass index assessed from baseline at 12 and 24 weeks
Changes in waist circumference0, 12, 24 weeksChanges in waist circumference assessed from baseline at 12 and 24 weeks
Concentration of thyroglobulin0, 12, 24 weeksmeasured by immunoassay

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
concentration of HDL/LDL cholesterol0, 12, 24 weeksmeasured in blood
glucose concentration0, 12, 24 weeksmeasured in blood
concentration of total cholesterol0, 12, 24 weeksmeasured in blood
concentration of triglycerides0, 12, 24 weeksmeasured in blood

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026