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Submitted on August 21, 2006
Accepted on January 11, 2007
Department of Endocrinology, (R.N., G.G.), Azienda Ospedaliera LE/1, P.O. "V. Fazzi", 73100 Lecce, Italy; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, (T.M.), Casa di Cura "Salus", 72100 Brindisi, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine (A.P), Ospedali Riuniti, 43100 Parma, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine (D.D), Azienda Ospedaliera PR, "Vaio" Hospital, 43036 Fidenza, Italy; Endocrine Unit, (H.H.), Raja Isteri Pengtran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA 1000, Brunei
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: robnegro{at}tiscali.it.
Context: pregnant women who are positive for thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb[+]) are prone to develop postpartum thyroid dysfunction (PPTD) and permanent hypothyroidism. Selenium (Se) decreases thyroid inflammatory activity in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.
Objective: we wished to examine whether Se supplementation, during and after pregnancy, influences the thyroidal autoimmune pattern and function.
Design: This was a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
Setting: The study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Endocrinology.
Patients: 2143 euthyroid pregnant women participated the study; 7.9% were TPOAb(+).
Interventions: during pregnancy and the postpartum period, 77 TPOAb(+) women (Group S1) received Selenomethionine (Seme) 200 µg/day, 74 TPOAb(+) women (Group S0) received placebo, and 81 TPOAb(-) age-matched women were the control group (Group C).
Main outcomes: we measured the prevalence of postpartum thyroid dysfunction and hypothyroidism.
Results: postpartum thyroid dysfunction and permanent hypothyroidism were significantly lower in Group S1 compared with S0 (28.6% vs 48.6%; P < 0.01 and 11.7% vs 20.3%; P < 0.01).
Conclusions: Se supplementation during pregnancy and in the postpartum period reduced thyroid inflammatory activity and the incidence of hypothyroidism.
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