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 .
IFNγ-Inducible Chemokines Decrease upon Selenomethionine Supplementation in Women with Euthyroid Autoimmune Thyroiditis: Comparison between Two Doses of Selenomethionine (80 or 160 μg) versus Placebo
Background : Several studies have suggested that selenium may influence the natural history of autoimmune thyroiditis ( AIT ) . Recently , IFNγ-inducible chemokines ( CXCL-9 , -10 and -11 ) were shown to be elevated in AIT patients . Objective : This prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effect of two doses of selenomethionine ( Semet ; 80 or 160 µg/day ) versus placebo in euthyroid women with AIT , in terms of reduction of anti-thyroid antibodies , CXCL-9 , -10 and -11 and improvement of thyroid echogenicity , over 12 months . Patients and Methods : Sixty patients , aged 21 - 65 years , were equally r and omized into 3 groups : placebo , 80 µg/day of Semet ( 80-Semet ) or 160 µg/day of Semet ( 160-Semet ) . Results : Anti-thyroperoxidase antibody ( TPOAb ) levels remained unaffected by Semet supplementation  ; anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels showed a significant reduction in the 160-Semet and the placebo group at 12 months . No significant change in thyroid echogenicity , thyroid volume and quality of life was observed within and between the groups . Sub clinical hypothyroidism was diagnosed in 2 patients of the placebo group versus 1 patient in each Semet group . Serum CXCL-9 and -10 were significantly reduced in both Semet groups at 6 and 12 months , while they remained unchanged or increased in the placebo group . CXCL-11 , TNFα and IFNγ showed a transient decrease at 6 months in both Semet groups but returned nearly to the basal levels at 12 months . Conclusions : Semet supplementation had no positive effect on thyroid echogenicity or TPOAb in our patients . However , we observed a Semet-dependent downregulation of the IFNγ-inducible chemokines , especially CXCL-9 and -10 , which may serve as helpful biomarkers in future selenium supplementation trials
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 .