About this ingredient
Ingredients
Kelp is a type of large brown seaweed commonly used as a botanical and nutritional ingredient. Kelp species can naturally provide iodine, minerals, polysaccharides, pigments, and other marine-derived compounds. Common supplement sources include species such as Ascophyllum nodosum. The exact species, iodine concentration, extract strength, and additional ingredients vary by product.
Kelp refers to large brown seaweeds that grow in marine environments. It is used as a food ingredient, botanical material, and source of naturally occurring nutrients and marine compounds.
One of kelp's most notable nutritional characteristics is its iodine content. The NIH identifies seaweed, including kelp, nori, kombu, and wakame, as among the best food sources of iodine. However, iodine concentrations can vary greatly between different seaweed species and products.
Kelp may be provided in dietary supplements as dried seaweed, powder, tablets, capsules, or standardized extracts. Some commercial products specifically standardize kelp to a stated iodine amount, while others provide the seaweed material itself.
Iodine is required by the body to produce thyroid hormones, which are involved in metabolism and other important physiological processes. Because excessive iodine intake can also cause health problems, consumers should check the iodine amount on kelp-containing supplement labels rather than assuming that all kelp products provide the same quantity.