The thyroid gland secretes hormones that help a variety of metabolic functions throughout your body. If your thyroid produces too many or too few hormones, this could result in thyroid disease. In some cases, people with thyroid disorder may have eye problems associated with thyroid disease. People with this condition, called Graves' disease or Graves' ophthalmopathy, may need to take antioxidant nutrients, particularly selenium, to help maintain or restore normal thyroid hormone levels.
Symptoms
You and your doctor may mistake early signs of Graves' disease for other eye conditions such as dry eye, but awareness of the potential symptoms may help you identify and seek treatment for eye-related problems early. Symptoms include redness and discomfort on the surface of your eyes and eyelid swelling or puffiness. You may notice changes in your vision such as altered perception of colors or double vision. Many people who have Graves' disease experience a condition known as proptosis. This condition causes your eyes to appear as if they "bulge out," and this stems from the inflammation that can occur in the tissues behind your eyes.
Selenium
Selenium is an antioxidant nutrient found in many foods, but this beneficial nutrient cannot treat symptoms associated with Graves' disease. This antioxidant may have a role in bringing your thyroid levels into a normal range, and this, in effect, could help reduce the incidence of eye-related problems.
If your doctor thinks selenium may help you she will recommend a daily dose, and the amount of the nutrient will depend on your thyroid levels and other health factors. Your doctor may decide that you should eat foods rich in selenium instead of taking a supplement. In such cases you will want to eat foods such as Brazil nuts, tuna, turkey and eggs. Enriched pasta and brown rice also contains selenium.
Other Nutrients
In addition to selenium, other antioxidant nutrients may have beneficial effects on your thyroid levels. Your doctor may encourage you to eat a diet rich in vitamins C and E, along with beta-carotene. She may recommend that you take a multivitamin or other supplement to ensure that you have a steady intake. If you need to increase your dietary intake, choose antioxidant-rich foods such as carrots, spinach, apples, bananas and almonds.
Considerations
You should not begin taking selenium or other antioxidant supplements without first talking to your doctor, since some nutrients may interact with medications or health conditions. Take all of your prescribed thyroid medications, and do not stop taking them to try dietary changes or supplements, since this could increase your risk for problems associated with your disease.
References
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences: Thyroid Eye Disease
- Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health; Selenium; November 2009
- "International Journal of Clinical Chemistry"; Supplementation With Antioxidants in the Treatment of Graves' Disease; The Effect on Glutathione Peroxidase Activity and Concentration of Selenium; V.B. Vrca, et al.; March 2004
- American Optometric Association: Diet & Nutrition
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Beta-Carotene; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; December 2008
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