Tag: Thyroid Hormones

Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

Adjuvant Treatment of Graves’ Hyperthyroidism with Selenium Yeast

Thyroid disease. Hyperthyroidism. Adjuvant treatment of thyroid disease with selenium yeast supplementation. All topics of interest. At this writing (August 2022), we await the publication of the outcomes of the GRASS clinical trial. GRASS is the acronym for the selenium supplementation for patients with Graves’ hyperthyroidism study [study protocol described by Watt 2013].

What is Graves’ Hyperthyroidism?

Thyroid gland
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in the neck below the Adam’s apple that makes and stores hormones that help regulate blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and the rate at which food is converted into energy. [This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.]
Hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune disease. It causes overactivity of the thyroid gland, resulting in too much production of the hormone thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism can cause an acceleration of the body’s metabolism; it can cause weight loss and rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Hyperthyroidism is caused by a number of conditions, including Graves’ disease, which is a common cause. Graves’ disease is the result of immune system disorder. It can affect anyone, but it is more common in women and in individuals under the age of 40. read more