Tag: Autoimmune Thyroiditis

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Selenium and Thyroid Health

Good thyroid health depends, in part, upon the bio-synthesis of selenium-dependent seleno-enzymes called deiodinases. These seleno-enzymes are key factors in thyroid hormone metabolism and regulation. Thyroid hormones regulate the body’s metabolism (think: energy expenditure, body weight, body temperature, digestion, heart rate, etc.).

Dr. Jan Alexander - selenium researcher
Guest author Dr. Jan Alexander. MD, PhD, Eurotox Registered Toxicologist, and Professor at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo. Co-author, together with Professor Urban Alehagen and Professor Jan Aaseth, of many articles about selenium and Coenzyme Q10.

There are three types of deiodinase enzymes. In normal thyroid function, these deiodinases regulate the activation and inactivation of the T4 and T3 thyroid hormones, as needed. Abnormal thyroid hormone function is closely associated with diminished health-related quality of life and with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

In many selenium-poor regions of the world, including much of Europe and the Middle East, low selenium intake and status may cause sub-optimal synthesis of deiodinase enzymes and, consequently, sub-optimal thyroid gland function. Selenium is an essential trace element found in soil, and humans must get it from their food. read more

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Thyroid Disorders and Selenium Supplementation

Thyroid disorders.

Many clinicians treating autoimmune thyroid diseases are using selenium supplementation as one treatment modality even though, in the official guidelines, selenium supplementation is recommended only in the treatment of mild Graves orbitopathy [Winther 2020].

Thyroid gland
The thyroid gland is the butterfly-shaped organ in the front part of the neck. Thyroid hormones regulate body temperature, heart rate, and weight gain or loss. Autoimmune thyroid disorders occur when immune system cells attack thyroid gland cells. Autoimmune thyroid disorders cause overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism) and underproduction of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism). Graves’ disease is the most common autoimmune hyperthyroidism. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune hypothyroidism.

Some clinicians consider supplementation with selenium to be a pharmaceutical action that should be taken only with thyroid disorder patients with well-defined symptoms in order to alleviate the symptoms, to improve the course of the disease, or to provide a cure. Typically, in such cases, the selenium treatment is conducted for short periods, and the health benefits and side effects are evaluated and weighed [Schomburg 2020].

Other clinicians consider supplementation with selenium in a more holistic way and use selenium supplementation as a way to correct a nutritional deficiency of selenium, which is associated with thyroid disorders [Schomburg 2020]. read more

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Selenium Deficiency and Thyroid Disorders

Selenium plays an important role in optimal immune and endocrine system function. The role that selenium plays with respect to thyroid function is complex [Chmura 2022]:

Thyroid system
Good thyroid system function promotes improved metabolism, better growth and development, and increased effect of catecholamines. Note: Catecholamines are hormones released in response to emotional or physical stress. (Attribution: Mikael Häggström, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.)

The thyroid gland is the organ with the greatest amount of selenium per gram of tissue.

  • An adequate supply of selenium is necessary for synthesizing the enzymes – the iodothyronine deiodinases – that are involved in the metabolism of thyroid hormones.
  • Selenium supplementation may give beneficial effects to patients with autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland.
  • There is a significant correlation between selenium deficiency and thyroid gland dysfunction. Selenium deficiency is defined as serum or plasma selenium levels below 70 mcg/L. Optimal serum/plasma selenium levels are approximately 125 mcg/L [Winter 2020].
    • Selenium Deficiency and Thyroid Dysfunction

    A 2022 review highlights the following relationships between selenium deficiency and thyroid gland dysfunction [Chmura 2022]: read more

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    Hashimoto’s Disease Patients Benefit from Selenium Supplementation

    Hypothyroidism is the medical condition caused by an underactive thyroid gland that is not producing sufficient quantities of thyroid hormones. It is the failure of the thyroid gland to function normally.

    Jan Olav Aaseth
    Endocrinologist Jan Aaseth, M.D., Ph. D., ERT, explains that, in Norway, the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease is made after a clinical examination that involves determination of the patient’s circulating levels of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone, and thyroperoxidase antibodies [Aaseth 2022].
    The most common form of hypothyroidism is related to Hashimoto’s disease. Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder most common among middle-aged women. Symptoms include anxiety, dry skin, fatigue and lethargy, muscle aches and muscle stiffness, negative mood, sensitivity to cold, slow thinking and poor memory.

    The standard treatment for Hashimoto’s disease is twofold:

    1) treatment with a synthetic hormone called levothyroxine, which works like the T4 hormone that is naturally produced by the thyroid gland read more

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    Selenium Supplementation and Autoimmune Thyroiditis

    Autoimmune thyroiditis is the umbrella term for various types of thyroiditis in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland.

    Endocrine glands placement
    The thyroid gland is the butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in the lower part of the neck. It plays an essential role in the regulation of our basic metabolism.

    The result is often hypothyroidism, the insufficient functioning of the thyroid gland.

    The two major types of hypothyroidism are Hashimoto’s disease and atrophic thyroiditis.

    Thyroiditis is the medical term for inflammation of the thyroid gland.

    Immune system disorder can also cause an overactive thyroid, called hyperthyroidism; Graves’ disease is the most common form.

    Selenium Supplementation to Prevent Hypothyroidism

    In a 2021 review article, Filipowicz et al assert that many European endocrinologists prescribe selenium supplements to autoimmune thyroiditis patients.

    For example, a 2016 survey of 815 doctors (91% endocrinologists) has shown that almost 80% of the surveyed doctors prescribe selenium supplementation to autoimmune thyroiditis patients. The rationale for the selenium supplementation is the delay of the hypothyroidism or a decrease in thyroid antibodies [Filipowicz 2021]. read more