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 .
Selenium treatment in autoimmune thyroiditis: 9-month follow-up with variable doses.
The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term ( 9 months ) effects of variable doses ( 200/100 microg/day ) of L-selenomethionine on autoimmune thyroiditis ( AIT ) and the parameters affecting the success rate of this therapy . The present study was design ed in three steps : ( 1 ) 88 female patients with AIT ( mean age = 40.1 + /- 13.3 years ) were r and omized into two groups according to their initial serum TSH , thyroid peroxidase antibody ( TPOAb ) concentrations , and age . All the patients were receiving L-thyroxine to keep serum TSH < or=2 mIU/l . Group S2 ( n = 48 , mean TPOAb = 803.9 + /- 483.8 IU/ml ) received 200 microg L-selenomethionine per day , orally for 3 months , and group C ( n = 40 , mean TPOAb = 770.3 + /- 406.2 IU/ml ) received placebo . ( 2 ) 40 volunteers of group S2 were r and omized into two age- and TPOAb-matched groups . Group S22 ( n = 20 ) went on taking L-selenomethionine 200 microg/day , while others ( group S21 ) lowered the dose to 100 microg/day . ( 3 ) 12 patients of group S22 ( group S222 ) went on taking L-selenomethionine 200 microg/day , while 12 patients of group S21 ( S212 ) increased the dose to 200 microg/day . Serum titers of TPOAb decreased significantly in group S2 ( 26.2 % , P < 0.001 ) , group S22 ( 23.7 % , P < 0.01 ) and group S212 ( 30.3 % , P < 0.01 ) . There were no significant changes in group C and group S222 ( P > 0.05 ) . TPOAb titers increased significantly in group S21 ( 38.1 % , P < 0.01 ) . A significant decrease in thyroglobulin antibody titers was only noted in group S2 ( 5.2 % , P < 0.01 ) . L-selenomethionine substitution suppresses serum concentrations of TPOAb in patients with AIT , but suppression requires doses higher than 100 microg/day which is sufficient to maximize glutathione peroxidase activities . The suppression rate decreases with time
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 .