Kelp Powder by Blooms Health Products

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Dental plaque. It is unclear if oral Ascophyllum nodosum is beneficial in patients with dental plaque. Details: A small crossover study in adults with moderate to heavy calculus formation shows that taking a specific brand of Ascophyllum nodosum capsules (ProDen PlaqueOff, SDC Swedencar eAB) 500 mg daily for 6 months reduces the buildup of supragingival calculus by 52% when compared with placebo. The buildup of plaque was reduced by 19% in males, but was not reduced in females, when compared with placebo (94996).
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Although there has been interest in using oral Ascophyllum nodosum for GERD, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of Ascophyllum nodosum for this purpose.
• Gingivitis. It is unclear if oral Ascophyllum nodosum is beneficial in patients with dental plaque. Details: A small crossover study in adults with moderate to heavy calculus formation shows that taking a specific brand of Ascophyllum nodosum capsules (ProDen PlaqueOff, SDC Swedencar eAB) 500 mg daily for 6 months does not reduce gingivitis when compared with placebo (94996).
• Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes). Oral Ascophyllum nodosum has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: A small clinical study in adults with prediabetes that are overweight or obese shows that taking a specific product (InSea2, InnoVactiv Inc.) containing 500 mg of Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus extracts daily for 12 weeks reduces postprandial blood glucose but does not improve fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight, lipids, or blood pressure when compared with placebo (110560).
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although there has been interest in using oral Ascophyllum nodosum for IBD, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of Ascophyllum nodosum for this purpose.
• Iodine deficiency. It is unclear if oral Ascophyllum nodosum is beneficial in patients with iodine deficiency. Details: Ascophyllum nodosum contains iodine, and there is interest in its use for patients with iodine deficiency. A small clinical study in females with iodine insufficiency shows that taking a specific brand of Ascophyllum nodosum capsules (Napiers Hebridean Seagreens (NaHS), Seagreens Ltd) 500 mg daily for 14 days increases urinary iodine excretion by almost three-fold and increases thyroid stimulating hormone levels by 36% when compared with baseline (94997). The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a control group.
• Metabolic syndrome. Oral Ascophyllum nodosum has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: Observational research in adults with one or more components of metabolic syndrome has found that taking a specific combination product (Gdue, Aesculapius) containing extracts of Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus in a 95:5 ratio along with chromium picolinate two to three times daily with meals for around 6 months is associated with reductions in body weight by 7.3 kg, waist circumference by 7.5 cm, fasting blood glucose by 16 mg/dL, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 0.55%, systolic blood pressure by 7 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure by 4 mmHg, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 18 mg/dL, and 10-year cardiovascular risk scores by 1.8% when compared to baseline (110559). It is unclear if these effects are due to Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, or the combination. Further, the validity of these findings is limited by a lack of control group.
• Obesity. Oral Ascophyllum nodosum has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: A small clinical study in adults with prediabetes that are overweight or obese shows that taking a specific product (InSea2, InnoVactiv Inc.) containing 500 mg of Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus extracts daily for 12 weeks does not reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat, lipids, blood pressure, or measures of glycemic control when compared with placebo (110560).
• Peptic ulcers. Although there has been interest in using oral Ascophyllum nodosum for peptic ulcers, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of Ascophyllum nodosum for this purpose. More evidence is needed to rate Ascophyllum nodosum for these uses.

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POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally, short-term. Ascophyllum nodosum dried powder has been used with apparent safety at a dose of up to 500 mg daily for up to 6 months (94996,94997,103900). However, marine products such as Ascophyllum nodosum are known to accumulate heavy metals such as arsenic (94997,94999). Some supplement products are prospectively analyzed to confirm a lack of contaminants and that heavy metal levels are below threshold (94997).

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using amounts greater than those found in food.

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AMIODARONE (Cordarone) Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Probable •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, combining Ascophyllum nodosum with amiodarone might cause excessively high iodine levels.  Details Ascophyllum nodosum contains iodine (94997,95000,95102), although the bioavailability of iodine from Ascophyllum nodosum is lower than that of potassium iodide (94997). Amiodarone contains 37.3% iodine and can increase iodine levels. Concomitant use might increase the risk of having excessive iodine levels and adversely affecting thyroid function (7135,17574). Monitor thyroid function.

ANTITHYROID DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Due to its iodine content, Ascophyllum nodosum might alter the effects of antithyroid drugs.  Details Ascophyllum nodosum contains iodine (94997,95000,95102), although the bioavailability of iodine from Ascophyllum nodosum is lower than that of potassium iodide (94997). Iodine in high doses has been reported to cause both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, depending on the individual's past medical history. Taking Ascophyllum nodosum while using antithyroid drugs could alter the effects of the antithyroid drugs (17574).

THYROID HORMONE Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Due to its iodine content, Ascophyllum nodosum might alter the effects of thyroid hormone.  Details Ascophyllum nodosum contains iodine (94997,95000,95102), although the bioavailability of iodine from Ascophyllum nodosum is lower than that of potassium iodide (94997). Iodine in high doses has been reported to cause both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, depending on the individual's past medical history. Taking Ascophyllum nodosum while using thyroid hormone could alter the effects of thyroid hormone (17574).

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General ...Orally, Ascophyllum nodosum seems to be generally well-tolerated.

Endocrine ...Orally, taking Ascophyllum nodosum powder 500 mg daily for 14 days has been reported to cause elevated levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in 2 of 22 women in a clinical trial. The powder contained 356 mcg iodine per 500 mg. Levels of free thyroxine (T4) were unaffected (94997).

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, Ascophyllum nodosum has been reported to cause stomach discomfort in one clinical trial (94996).

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