| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Other Original Articles |
Department of Endocrinology, Medizinische Klinik Innenstadt, University of Munich, D-80336 Munich, Germany
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. Dr. Roland Gärtner, Medizinische Klinik Innenstadt der Universität München, Ziemssenstrasse 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany. E-mail: . rgartner{at}medinn.med.uni-muenchen.de
Abstract
In areas with severe selenium deficiency there is a higher incidence of thyroiditis due to a decreased activity of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity within thyroid cells. Selenium-dependent enzymes also have several modifying effects on the immune system. Therefore, even mild selenium deficiency may contribute to the development and maintenance of autoimmune thyroid diseases. We performed a blinded, placebo-controlled, prospective study in female patients (n = 70; mean age, 47.5 ± 0.7 yr) with autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and/or Tg antibodies (TgAb) above 350 IU/ml. The primary end point of the study was the change in TPOAb concentrations. Secondary end points were changes in TgAb, TSH, and free thyroid hormone levels as well as ultrasound pattern of the thyroid and quality of life estimation. Patients were randomized into 2 age- and antibody (TPOAb)-matched groups; 36 patients received 200 µg (2.53 µmol) sodium selenite/d, orally, for 3months, and 34 patients received placebo. All patients were substituted with L-T4 to maintain TSH within the normal range. TPOAb, TgAb, TSH, and free thyroid hormones were determined by commercial assays. The echogenicity of the thyroid was monitored with high resolution ultrasound. The mean TPOAb concentration decreased significantly to 63.6% (P = 0.013) in the selenium group vs. 88% (P = 0.95) in the placebo group. A subgroup analysis of those patients with TPOAb greater than 1200 IU/ml revealed a mean 40% reduction in the selenium-treated patients compared with a 10% increase in TPOAb in the placebo group. TgAb concentrations were lower in the placebo group at the beginning of the study and significantly further decreased (P = 0.018), but were unchanged in the selenium group. Nine patients in the selenium-treated group had completely normalized antibody concentrations, in contrast to two patients in the placebo group (by 
2 test, P = 0.01). Ultrasound of the thyroid showed normalized echogenicity in these patients. The mean TSH, free T4, and free T3 levels were unchanged in both groups.
We conclude that selenium substitution may improve the inflammatory activity in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, especially in those with high activity. Whether this effect is specific for autoimmune thyroiditis or may also be effective in other endocrine autoimmune diseases has yet to be investigated.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  G. F Combs Jr, D. N Midthune, K. Y Patterson, W. K Canfield, A D. Hill, O. A Levander, P. R Taylor, J. E Moler, and B. H Patterson Effects of selenomethionine supplementation on selenium status and thyroid hormone concentrations in healthy adults Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2009; 89(6): 1808 - 1814. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. E. Wasserman, K. Nelson, N. R. Rose, W. Eaton, J. P. Pillion, E. Seaberg, M. V. Talor, L. Burek, A. Duggan, and R. H. Yolken Maternal Thyroid Autoantibodies during the Third Trimester and Hearing Deficits in Children: An Epidemiologic Assessment Am. J. Epidemiol., March 15, 2008; 167(6): 701 - 710. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Y. Song, N. Driessens, M. Costa, X. De Deken, V. Detours, B. Corvilain, C. Maenhaut, F. Miot, J. Van Sande, M.-C. Many, et al. Roles of Hydrogen Peroxide in Thyroid Physiology and Disease J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2007; 92(10): 3764 - 3773. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Negro, G. Greco, T. Mangieri, A. Pezzarossa, D. Dazzi, and H. Hassan The Influence of Selenium Supplementation on Postpartum Thyroid Status in Pregnant Women with Thyroid Peroxidase Autoantibodies J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2007; 92(4): 1263 - 1268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. F H Brauer, U. Schweizer, J. Kohrle, and R. Paschke Selenium and goiter prevalence in borderline iodine sufficiency Eur. J. Endocrinol., December 1, 2006; 155(6): 807 - 812. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Riese, M. Michaelis, B. Mentrup, F. Gotz, J. Kohrle, U. Schweizer, and L. Schomburg Selenium-Dependent Pre- and Posttranscriptional Mechanisms Are Responsible for Sexual Dimorphic Expression of Selenoproteins in Murine Tissues Endocrinology, December 1, 2006; 147(12): 5883 - 5892. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 O. Turker, K. Kumanlioglu, I. Karapolat, and I. Dogan Selenium treatment in autoimmune thyroiditis: 9-month follow-up with variable doses. J. Endocrinol., July 1, 2006; 190(1): 151 - 156. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Schomburg, C. Riese, M. Michaelis, E. Griebert, M. O. Klein, R. Sapin, U. Schweizer, and J. Kohrle Synthesis and Metabolism of Thyroid Hormones Is Preferentially Maintained in Selenium-Deficient Transgenic Mice Endocrinology, March 1, 2006; 147(3): 1306 - 1313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. A. H. Cann Hypothesis: dietary iodine intake in the etiology of cardiovascular disease. J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2006; 25(1): 1 - 11. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Kohrle, F. Jakob, B. Contempre, and J. E. Dumont Selenium, the Thyroid, and the Endocrine System Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2005; 26(7): 944 - 984. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. J Beckett and J. R Arthur Selenium and endocrine systems J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2005; 184(3): 455 - 465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Endocrinology | Endocrine Reviews | J. Clin. End. & Metab. |
| Molecular Endocrinology | Recent Prog. Horm. Res. | All Endocrine Journals |
