Association of Seaweed Consumption with Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components: Findings from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the association between seaweed consumption and the odds of developing metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly Koreans. The study included 5777 adults aged 40–69 years from 2001 to 2002 in the Ansan and Ansung cohorts of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Data on the consumption of seaweed, including laver and kelp/sea mustard, were obtained using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between seaweed consumption and the odds of developing metabolic syndrome and its components. Women in the highest tertile of laver consumption had lower odds of developing metabolic syndrome than those in the lowest tertile (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54–0.92). Both men and women in the highest tertile of laver consumption had lower odds of abdominal obesity than those in the lowest tertile (AOR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.42–0.98 for men; AOR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.39–0.72 for women). These findings suggest that laver consumption is inversely associated with the odds of developing metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity in Korean adults.

Effect of the Interaction between Seaweed Intake and LPL Polymorphisms on Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Korean Adults

“…In men with the highest total seaweed, intake was significantly associated with a decreased incidence of MetS compared with that in men with the lowest seaweed intake. In line with previous findings, a cross-sectional study found that seaweed intake decreased MetS incidence in middle-aged men (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.54-0.92) [26]. In a prospective cohort study of 2588 postmenopausal women, seaweed intake and dietary iodine decreased the incidence of MetS (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.39-0.69; HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.47-0.78, respectively) [35].…”

“…Seaweed intake has been reported to help prevent MetS in several studies [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. In a 4-week placebo-controlled study, seaweed fucoxanthin supplementation (1 mg/day) decreased waist circumference (WC) and fat mass in obese Japanese individuals aged 20-59 years [23].…”

“…In a 1-month placebo-controlled study, seaweed powder supplementation (6 g/day) decreased systolic blood pressure and WC in 30 patients in Ecuador [24]. In addition, a study conducted in Koreans found a negative link between seaweed intake and MetS and its components [25][26][27]. In a 4-week clinical trial, seaweed supplementation (48 g/day) enhanced HDL-C levels and enzyme activities that inhibit oxidation and decreased TG and blood glucose levels in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes [25].…”

“…In a 4-week clinical trial, seaweed supplementation (48 g/day) enhanced HDL-C levels and enzyme activities that inhibit oxidation and decreased TG and blood glucose levels in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes [25]. Laver intake was inversely associated with abdominal obesity in Korean men and women [26]. In a cross-sectional study, dietary algae intake decreased the risk of diabetes in Korean adults (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.43-0.99) [27].…”

“…Supplementation of fucoxanthin and axanthophyll carotenoids in macroalgae increased HDL-C levels and decreased blood glucose, TG, and glycated hemoglobin levels in C57BL/6N mice [29]. Therefore, seaweed intake has been shown to decrease blood pressure and blood glucose and lipid levels [23][24][25][26][27][28][29].…”