Where is the strongest evidence that selenium supplementation helps a thyroid disorder?
Answer: The strongest evidence is from studies of patients with Graves’ orbitopathy.
What is Graves’ orbitopathy (GO)?
Answer: GO, also known as thyroid eye disease, is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder. It affects the tissues around the eyes. It causes swelling and discomfort. Most frequently, it affects individuals who have Graves’ disease [Cleveland Clinic 2026].
What does the clinical evidence show about selenium supplementation and Graves’ orbitopathy?
Answer: In 2026, Kostadinov et al examined data from five RCTs including 303 patients with Graves’ Orbitopathy. 165 patients received selenium; 138 received placebo or no selenium. Selenium supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in clinical activity score. However, the meta-analysis showed no significant differences in Quality of Life improvement or in visual function [Kostadinov 2026].