Increasing Seaweed Consumption in the Netherlands and Portugal and the Consequences for the Intake of Iodine, Sodium, and Exposure to Chemical Contaminants: A Risk-Benefit Study

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Vellinga, RE (Author) Other; Sam, M (Author) Other; Verhagen, H (Author) Other; Jakobsen, LS (Author) Other; Ravn Haren, G (Author) Other; Sugimoto, M (Author) Other; Torres, Duarte (Author) FCNAUP; Katagiri, R (Author) Other; Thu, BJ (Author) Other; Granby, K (Author) Other; Hoekstra, J (Author) Other; Temme, EHM (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Frontiers in Nutrition

Vol. 8

ISSN: 2296-861X

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 5 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Health sciences

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-21Y

DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.792923

Abstract (EN): Background: Seaweed has a high potential for nourishing the future planet. However, besides being beneficial, it also contains adverse components; this poses the question whether consumption of seaweed foods overall contributes beneficially or detrimentally to human health, and hence if their consumption should be promoted or restricted. Methods: This study evaluated the impact of substituting regular foods with seaweed foods in the diet, both in terms of nutritional quality (via iodine and sodium) and food safety (via arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury). Food consumption data from the Netherlands and Portugal (adults aged >18 years) were used, in which 10% of the amounts of pasta, bacon, and lettuce consumed were replaced by seaweed-derived products made from kelp (Saccharina latissima). Using Monte Carlo Risk Assessment software (MCRA), long-term nutrient intake and exposure to contaminants were assessed. The results obtained for the Netherlands and Portugal were compared with data from Japan, a country that has a high natural consumption of seaweed. Results: This low-tier risk-benefit study reveals that an increased seaweed consumption (as assessed by the 10% replacement with seaweed products) has no consequences in terms of intake of sodium and exposure to cadmium, lead, and mercury, and the associated (absence of) adverse health aspects. The alternative scenario almost doubled the mean iodine intake in the Netherlands (to 300 ¿g/day) and Portugal (to 208 ¿g/day) and increased the average exposure to arsenic levels in the Netherlands (to 1.02 ¿g/kg bw/day) and Portugal (to 1.67 ¿g/kg bw/day). Conclusion: The intake of iodine and exposure to arsenic in the Netherland and Portugal were certainly higher due to the modeled increase of seaweed foods. If seaweed consumption increases close to the 10% substitution, the public health consequences thereof may trigger further research. Copyright © 2022 Vellinga, Sam, Verhagen, Jakobsen, Ravn-Haren, Sugimoto, Torres, Katagiri, Thu, Granby, Hoekstra and Temme.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific