Do Brassica Vegetables Affect Thyroid Function?-A Comprehensive Systematic Review

[helvella]

At least some members have been saying that any goitrogenic effect of brassicas is massively over-stated. And there might be no impact.

There have been stories of people living on wheelbarrows of cabbage and nothing else - ending up with goitres. But such extreme dietary intakes could actually be very low in the required amino acids, iodine, selenium, etc.

This recent review is worth a read.

Do Brassica Vegetables Affect Thyroid Function?-A Comprehensive Systematic Review.

Abstract

Brassica vegetables are widely consumed all over the world, especially in North America, Asia, and Europe. They are a rich source of sulfur compounds, such as glucosinolates (GLSs) and isothiocyanates (ITCs), which provide health benefits but are also suspected of having a goitrogenic effect. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review to assess the impact of dietary interventions on thyroid function, in terms of the potential risk for people with thyroid dysfunctions. We analyzed the results of 123 articles of in vitro, animal, and human studies, describing the impact of brassica plants and extracts on thyroid mass and histology, blood levels of TSH, T3, T4, iodine uptake, and the effect on thyroid cancer cells. We also presented the mechanisms of the goitrogenic potential of GLSs and ITCs, the limitations of the studies included, as well as further research directions. The vast majority of the results cast doubt on previous assumptions claiming that brassica plants have antithyroid effects in humans. Instead, they indicate that including brassica vegetables in the daily diet, particularly when accompanied by adequate iodine intake, poses no adverse effects on thyroid function.

Open access here:

europepmc.org/article/MED/3...

greygoose

[greygoose]

Great! I'll read that later. Thank you.

[arTistapple]

Hopefully another of those quivering ‘should I, shouldn’t I?’ questions we are all plagued by, answered?

[Tina_Maria]

Hmm, so no more excuses not to eat your broccoli! 😅

[helvella in reply to Tina_Maria]

Drat!

[caledoniancat]

Hadn't the heart to read/critique 36pages in the morning so cut to the chase:Conclusion, "The presented studies cast doubt on previous assumptions that brassica plants have antithyroid effect in humans when consumed in reasonable and accessible amounts as part of a daily diet. The vast majority of the results indicate that brassica vegetables are safe for thyroid function, especially when the proper iodine supply is provided. However, it should be underlined that eating raw vegetables, especially in high amounts, may increase the risk of the negative impact on the thyroid, while the cooking process reduces this effect. To draw more far-reaching conclusions, more human research based on dietary interventions rather than questionnaires should be conducted."

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to caledoniancat]

Get boiling those sprouts 🤣

[TSH110 in reply to Regenallotment]

😋 I bloomin love em!

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to TSH110]

Me too 🥦🥦🥦

[serenfach]

Oh good - my 16 plants of purple sprouting are coming along nicely, and all for me!

[TSH110 in reply to serenfach]

Lucky 🍀 you ☘️I’m jealous

[helvella]

It is easy to miss some brassicas - like mustard.

This is just a quick grab from Wiki - there will be more comprehensive lists somewhere.

Brassica (/ˈbræsɪkə/) is a genus of plants in the cabbage and mustard family (Brassicaceae). The members of the genus are informally known as cruciferous vegetables, cabbages, mustard plants, or simply brassicas. Crops from this genus are sometimes called cole crops—derived from the Latin caulis, denoting the stem or stalk of a plant.

The genus Brassica is known for its important agricultural and horticultural crops and also includes a number of weeds, both of wild taxa and escapees from cultivation. Brassica species and varieties commonly used for food include bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, choy sum, kohlrabi, napa cabbage, rutabaga, turnip and some seeds used in the production of canola oil and the condiment mustard. Over 30 wild species and hybrids are in cultivation, plus numerous cultivars and hybrids of cultivated origin. Most are seasonal plants (annuals or biennials), but some are small shrubs. Brassica plants have been the subject of much scientific interest for their agricultural importance. Six particular species (B. carinata, B. juncea, B. oleracea, B. napus, B. nigra, and B. rapa) evolved by the combining of chromosomes from three earlier species, as described by the triangle of U theory.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassica

[TSH110 in reply to helvella]

The triangle of U theory is news to me - very interesting.

[serenfach]

You know those acid yellow fields in September? That is rape, grown for oil, and is a brassica. Rape seed oil is used a lot in lots of food.

[helvella in reply to serenfach]

Yes - and Wiki has been written/edited by a USA person, I guess, because they refer to canola.

[serenfach]

There was a competition in the Farmers Weekly years and years ago to rename rape, for obvious reasons. I suggested Deflower, but did not win...

[helvella in reply to serenfach]

Turnip-seed?

Etymology

From Middle English rape sede, rape seed, equivalent to rape (“rapeseed plant(s)”) +‎ seed. As a meronym for the entire plant, from the need to distinguish the plant from the etymologically unrelated verb and act rape. In this context, rape is from Latin rāpa, from rāpum (“turnip”).

en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rape...

[serenfach]

Whatever happened to mangelwurzels?

[TSH110 in reply to serenfach]

They are not brassicas tho they are beta (beets) according to wiki:

The mangelwurzel has a history in England of being used for sport ("mangold hurling"), for celebration, for animal fodder, and for the brewing of a potent alcoholic beverage. They were also carved into lanterns in some parts.

As a child we were given a turnip to carve into a lantern at Halloween, they are tough as old boots and take hours to do and you can’t really finesse them…not like those soft pliant American pumpkins that sadly have displaced them in large part. We’d (the children with their turnip lanterns) walk up the street making wooing noises as the neighbours came out to see us pass by and pretend to be terrified by us! Then it was apples on strings in the doorway that were swung like a pedulum (attached to the top of the door frame) and you had to try and grab them mid air with your teeth! Apple bobbing too. Such simple fun with simple things not the manufactured capitalist nonsense it’s become now.

Kids these days so spoilt and wanting instant gratification that they couldn’t hack the hours and hours of turnip hacking to create a very crude and rustic result - no it’s pumpkins - the lazy carve up! Results are a lot better tho so I can’t really blame them 🎃

Seems I’m not the only one who mourns the passing of the turnip lantern and some still actually make them!

bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-hi...