AITC is the sharp compound released when mustard, horseradish or wasabi is crushed. The same reactivity that switches on the body's protective and detoxification genes also makes it a powerful irritant. Given alone to people, results have been unremarkable or negative. Fresh preparation appears to matter more than capsules; the thyroid worry appears to dissolve where iodine intake is adequate. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone | 0.5–2.0 mIU/L | Detects any thyroid suppression from cabbage-family compounds |
| Free thyroxine | 1.0–1.5 ng/dL | Confirms whether an abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone reflects real hormone change |
| Urinary iodine concentration | 100–200 micrograms/L | Identifies the deficiency state in which a thyroid effect becomes plausible |
| Urinalysis with microscopy | No blood, no atypical cells | Screens the organ where AITC concentrates and where rodent tumours appeared |
| Alanine aminotransferase | 10–26 U/L (men), 8–22 U/L (women) | Detects liver stress from a compound metabolised almost entirely in the liver |
| International normalised ratio | Target set by the prescriber, typically 2.0–3.0 | Captures the one drug interaction with a plausible mechanism, in warfarin users |
| Urinary dithiocarbamate metabolites | No established target; change from the individual's own baseline | Confirms the product is actually delivering absorbed isothiocyanate |
Cadence: Thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine at 8–12 weeks, then every 6–12 months while use continues; urinalysis repeated at 6 months; in warfarin users, clotting time at 2 and 6 weeks after any dose change. For food-level intake, no laboratory testing is warranted at all.