Selenium is sometimes used as a complementary or alternative treatment for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism. Results of a review published in the April 2002 issue of "The Clinical Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism" propose that even a slight selenium deficiency can contribute to and exacerbate autoimmune thyroid disease. However, selenium supplements are not a conventional treatment for Hashimoto's thyroiditis and other causes of hypothyroidism. Please talk to your treating physician before using dietary supplements to address your health concerns.
Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that encourages normal growth and development, including healthy thyroid function. Your thyroid gland contains more selenium than any other part of your body; in a study published in the December 2010 issue of "The Clinical Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism," University of Athens researchers indicated that selenium deficiency is linked to autoimmune diseases of the thyroid, as well as certain types of cretinism. Selenium is found in plant foods; the amount of this mineral can vary, depending on the quality of the soil. Selenium is also found in meat and seafood. According to the U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements, or ODS, dietary sources of selenium include Brazil nuts, canned tuna, cod, beef, turkey, eggs, pasta, rice and dairy foods. The recommended dietary allowance for selenium for males and females 14 and older is 55 mcg a day.
Uses
Supplemental selenium is used to treat selenium deficiency, a condition rare in the United States, although some severe gastrointestinal disorders may impair ability to get enough of this mineral. Selenium deficiency may exacerbate iodine deficiency, which in turn affects thyroid function. Selenium supplements are sometimes used for autoimmune disorders of the thyroid. According to MedlinePlus, 200 mcg of selenium may reduce the antibodies that contribute to Hashimoto's thyroiditis, as well as boost your mood and generally make you feel better.
Research
The April 2002 study, conducted by University of Munich researchers, examined the effects of supplemental selenium on 70 women with impaired thyroid functioning. For three months, roughly half of the study participants received treatment, while the remainder received a placebo. Researchers noted that thyroid peroxidase antibody concentrations in the selenium group decreased considerably compared to those in the placebo group, and normal antibody concentrations were noted in nine participants in the selenium group. However, the University of Athens researchers who undertook the December 2010 review indicated that while selenium may be a viable treatment for thyroid autoimmune disease, questions remain as to which populations would benefit from selenium the most. They concluded that more in-depth study of selenium on thyroid function is still needed.
Cautions
Selenium supplements and other vitamins and minerals are classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. By nature of this classification, dietary supplements cannot claim to prevent, treat or cure any disease; you cannot be certain that supplements are either safe or effective. The conventional treatment for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine, a prescription synthetic thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism can lead to goiter, heart problems, nerve damage, infertility and depression when left untreated. If you have hypothyroidism or suspect that you have thyroid disease, don't self-treat with selenium supplements. Talk to your treating physician instead.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Selenium Supplement (Oral Route); November 2010
- MedlinePlus Supplements: Selenium; May 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Hypothyroidism; June 2010
- U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements: Selenium
- "The Clinical Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism"; Selenium and the Thyroid ...; L.H. Duntas; December 2010
- "The Clinical Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism"; Selenium Supplementation in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis...; R. Gärtner, et al.; April 2002
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