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 .
Influence of short-term selenium supplementation on the natural course of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: clinical results of a blinded placebo-controlled randomized prospective trial
Abstract Background The real efficacy of selenium supplementation in Hashimoto ’s thyroiditis ( HT ) is still an unresolved issue . Objectives We studied the short-term effect of l-selenomethionine on the thyroid function in euthyroid patients with HT . Our primary outcome measures were TSH , thyroid hormones , thyroid peroxidase antibody ( TPOAb ) , thyroglobulin antibody ( TGAb ) levels and thyroid echogenicity after 6 months of l-selenomethionine treatment . The secondary outcome measure was serum CXCL10 levels . Methods In a placebo-controlled r and omized prospect i ve study , we have enrolled untreated euthyroid patients with HT . Seventy-six patients were r and omly assigned to receive l-selenomethionine 166 µg/die ( SE n = 38 ) or placebo ( controls n = 38 ) for 6 months . TSH , free T4 ( FT4 ) , free T3 ( FT3 ) , TPOAb and CXCL10 serum levels were assayed at time 0 , after 3 and 6 months . An ultrasound examination of the left and right thyroid lobe in transverse and longitudinal sections was performed . A rectangular region , the region of interest , was selected for analysis . Results TSH , FT4 , FT3 , TPOAb , thyroid echogenicity and CXCL10 were not statistically different between SE and control groups at time 0 , after 3 and 6 months . In the SE group , FT4 levels were significantly decreased ( P < 0.03 ) after 3 months , while FT3 increased ( P < 0.04 ) after 3 and 6 months versus baseline values . In the control group , the FT3 decreased after 3 and 6 months ( P < 0.02 ) compared to baseline . Conclusion The short-term l-selenomethionine supplementation has a limited impact on the natural course in euthyroid HT . Our results tip the balance toward the ineffectiveness of short-term l-selenomethionine supplementation in HT
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 .