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 supplementation could restore euthyroidism in subclinical hypothyroid patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.
INTRIDUCTION The thyroid is an organ with one of the highest selenium concentrations , containing many selenoproteins implicated in thyroid hormone metabolism . Treatment with levothyroxine has been recommended for all sub clinical hypothyroid patients with TSH levels > 10 mU/L , whereas for those with TSH < 10 mU/L treatment remains controversial . AIM A r and omised controlled prospect i ve study was performed to investigate the effects of Se treatment on patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and mild sub- clinical hypothyroidism ( TSH < 10 mU/L ) . MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 196 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis were recruited in the study . Patients were assigned to receive ( case ) or not receive ( control ) an oral selenomethionine treatment . Cases received 83 mcg selenomethionine/day orally for four months . All the patient 's charts were su bmi tted to thyroid hormonal profile ( TSH , fT4 ) and TPOAb evaluation upon enrolment and at the end of the study . RESULTS In total 192 patients completed the study . Cases and controls were superimposable for age , gender , thyroid hormonal profile , and TPOAb levels . At the end of the study , 33/192 ( 17.2 % ) participants restored euthyroidism ( Responders ) . Responders were significantly more frequent among Cases than Controls ( 30/96 [ 31.3 % ] vs. 3/96 [ 3.1 % ] , p < 0.0001 ) . CONCLUSION Selenium supplementation could restore euthyroidism in one third of sub clinical hypothyroidism patients with autoimmune thyroiditis . ( Endokrynol Pol 2016 ; 67 ( 6 ) : 567 - 571 )
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 .