Roll Call

Bladderwrack — answers to bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus)

Plant

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A brown seaweed that grows along the North Atlantic and North Sea coasts, dried and ground for use in supplements and older traditional preparations.

Why it’s used

Taken mainly as a source of iodine and, traditionally, for claims related to thyroid function and metabolism.

What the evidence says

NIH ODS notes that seaweeds, including bladderwrack, can be a source of dietary iodine, but their iodine content varies widely and is largely unregulated from product to product. Direct clinical trials testing bladderwrack itself for thyroid function, weight, or other claimed effects are lacking.

Context

Because iodine content in seaweed products is inconsistent, published dosing studies for bladderwrack as a defined ingredient are not available.

Educational information, not medical or safety advice. Consult a professional for allergies or medical concerns.