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 .
Effects of 12 months treatment with L-selenomethionine on serum anti-TPO Levels in Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
OBJECTIVE We studied the effects of selenium ( Se ) treatment on serum anti-thyroid peroxidase ( TPO ) levels in Greek patients with Hashimoto 's thyroiditis ( HT ) . DESIGN We prospect ively studied 80 women with HT , median age 37 ( range 24 - 52 ) years , for 1 year . All patients received 200 microg Se in the form of l-selenomethionine orally for 6 months . At the end of the 6-month period , 40 patients continued taking 200 microg Se ( Group A ) and 40 patients stopped ( Group B ) . Serum thyrotropin ( TSH ) , free triiodothyronine ( FT(3 ) ) , free thyroxine ( FT(4 ) ) , anti-TPO , and anti-thyroglobulin ( Tg ) levels were measured at baseline and at the end of each 3-month period . MAIN OUTCOME There was a significant reduction of serum anti-TPO levels during the first 6 months ( by 5.6 % and 9.9 % at 3 and 6 months , respectively ) . An overall reduction of 21 % ( p < 0.0001 ) compared with the basal values was noted in Group A. In Group B , serum anti-TPO levels were increased by 4.8 % ( p < 0.0001 ) during the second 6-month period . CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that in HT patients 6 months of Se treatment caused a significant decrease in serum anti-TPO levels , which was more profound in the second trimester . The extension of Se supplementation for 6 more months result ed in an additional 8 % decrease , while the cessation caused a 4.8 % increase , in the anti-TPO concentrations
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 .