Two systematic review s have evaluated controlled trials among patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and report that selenium supplementation decreases circulating thyroid autoantibodies .
The immunomodulatory effects of selenium might involve reducing proinflammatory cytokine release .
In Graves ’ disease , some , but not all , trials indicate that adjuvant selenium supplementation enhances the restoration of biochemical euthyroidism , and might benefit patients with mild Graves ’ orbitopathy .
The available evidence from trials does not support routine selenium supplementation in the st and ard treatment of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis or Graves ’ disease .
However , correction of moderate to severe selenium deficiency may offer benefits in preventing , as well as treating , these disorders .
Purpose of review This review provides an appraisal of recent evidence for or against selenium supplementation in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases , and discusses possible effect mechanisms .
Recent findings Epidemiological data suggest an increased prevalence of autoimmune thyroid diseases under conditions of low dietary selenium intake .
However , clinical ly relevant effects of selenium supplementation , including improvement in quality of life , are more elusive .
Antioxidants in the treatment of Graves disease.
An antioxidant mixture ( LAROTABE ) was evaluated in the treatment of Graves disease . Fifty-six hyperthyroid patients were treated with methimazol ( MMI ) ( A ) , LAROTABE ( B ) , or MMI plus LAROTABE ( C ) . According to a clinical score , improvement was obtained at 8 weeks in A and 4 weeks in B and C. Group A diminished their thyroid hormone concentration to normal levels , while patients with LAROTABE did not reduce T3 and T4 unless MMI was introduced . Hyperthyroid patients had increased malondialdehyde ( MDA ) content and SOD activity and decreased catalase activity compared to controls . Within group A , MDA decreased to control values while SOD was reduced 38.3 % and catalase increased 21.6 % . Similar results were obtained for MDA and for both enzymes after treatment with LAROTABE . Signs and symptoms of Graves disease might be related to an increase in free radicals ; antioxidants could be a new therapeutic tool to improve the clinical manifestation of this illness
Two systematic review s have evaluated controlled trials among patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and report that selenium supplementation decreases circulating thyroid autoantibodies .
The immunomodulatory effects of selenium might involve reducing proinflammatory cytokine release .
In Graves ’ disease , some , but not all , trials indicate that adjuvant selenium supplementation enhances the restoration of biochemical euthyroidism , and might benefit patients with mild Graves ’ orbitopathy .
The available evidence from trials does not support routine selenium supplementation in the st and ard treatment of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis or Graves ’ disease .
However , correction of moderate to severe selenium deficiency may offer benefits in preventing , as well as treating , these disorders .
Purpose of review This review provides an appraisal of recent evidence for or against selenium supplementation in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases , and discusses possible effect mechanisms .
Recent findings Epidemiological data suggest an increased prevalence of autoimmune thyroid diseases under conditions of low dietary selenium intake .
However , clinical ly relevant effects of selenium supplementation , including improvement in quality of life , are more elusive .