Evaluation of the consumption of potentially goitrogenic food products in various models of plant-based diets in Poland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption frequency of the selected examples of goitrogenic foods in four different groups of people in Poland, who used traditional, vegetarian, vegan and pescovegetarian diets. The validated consumption frequency questionnaire of the examples of goitrogenic foods in four groups of people (n=365) on afore-mentioned diets, was performed in Poland in 2022. The statistical correspondence analysis model (CAM) was used to quantify and reveal potential relations between dietary habits and thyroid dysfunction, family history of thyroid disease, use of thyroid drugs (L-thyroxine, propylthiouracil, thiamazole), or iodine dietary supplements/drugs. Statistical analyses revealed an increased odds ratio more than 3, 8, and 6 times higher for tofu; plant-based meat; and soy beverages, respectively, by vegetarian’s vs traditional diet. Respondents with diagnosed hypothyroidism consumed soy, flax products, but avoided iodine-rich products. All respondents on traditional diet used iodine-rich products while 22% vegetarian and 23% vegan excluded them. CAM analysis did not show any relation between brassica vegetables and thyroid dysfunction. Despite the results obtained using food questionnaire were not combined with biochemicals data, some tendencies in food behavior among Polish vegans, vegetarians, and pescovegetarians appeared. Apart from some interesting correlations and tendencies, revealed in our study, further in-depth research, combined with biochemical analysis, will allow to better understand, and explain these observations. Still, the effort should be made in the future in equalizing the proportions of female and male participants of such studies, what should bring some additional data on the gender influence.