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 .
Effect of Selenium Supplementation on Recurrent Hyperthyroidism Caused by Graves' Disease: A Prospective Pilot Study.
The effect of selenium supplementation on recurrent hyperthyroidism caused by Graves ' disease is unclear . Our study aim ed to assess the efficacy of selenium supplementation therapy on recurrent Graves ' disease . Forty-one patients with recurrent Graves ' disease were enrolled in this study . All patients received the routine treatment using methimazole ( MMI ) , while patients allocated to the selenium group received additional selenium therapy for 6 months . The influence of selenium supplementation on the concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone ( TSH ) , anti-TSH-receptor antibodies ( TRAb ) , free thyroxine ( FT4 ) , and free triiodothyronine ( FT3 ) were assessed . The remission rate was also compared between 2 groups . There was no obvious difference in the demographic data and the levels of serum FT4 , FT3 , TSH , and TRAb between the 2 groups at baseline . Both FT4 and FT3 decreased more at 2 months in the selenium group than the controls , while the TSH level increased more in patients receiving selenium supplementation ( p<0.05 ) . The TRAb level was significantly lower in patients receiving selenium supplementation ( 2.4 IU/l vs. 5.6 IU/l , p=0.04 ) . The percentages of patients with normal TRAb level at 6 months was also significantly higher in the selenium group ( 19.0 vs. 0 % , p=0.016 ) . Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed patients receiving selenium supplementation had a significantly higher rate of remission than controls ( Log-rank test p=0.008 ) . In conclusion , selenium supplementation can enhance the effect of antithyroid drugs in patients with recurrent Graves ' disease . R and omized trials with large number of participants are needed to vali date the finding above
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 .