Kelp
Seaweed/Nutrient Depletion:
GlucoseGlucose: In human research, consumption of a food containing carrageenan from seaweed resulted in a decreased postprandial glycemic response and decreased area under the curve for glucose vs. the food product without carrageenan (109). However, in human research, enrichment of bread with Ascophyllum nodosum resulted in a lack of effect on blood glucose levels (210), and a blend of Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus inhibited postchallenge plasma insulin levels, although this effect was lacking with glucose (211). Purified polyphenols from Ecklonia cava lacked significant effects on levels of blood glucose in overweight individuals (147). In animal research, extracts of Fucus vesiculosus caused significant hypoglycemia (108). IronIron: Theoretically, seaweed may reduce iron absorption after prolonged use.LipidsLipids: In human research, enrichment of bread with Ascophyllum nodosum resulted in a lack of effect on cholesterol levels (210); however, in human research, polyphenols from Ecklonia cava reduced total and LDL cholesterol, and increased HDL cholesterol. Based on animal evidence, sodium alginate (soluble algae polysaccharide from the cell walls of brown algae) may lower lipid levels in the blood (213), and various topical seaweeds reduced levels of total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing HDL cholesterol (214).