In autoimmune thyroid disease, your immune system produces antibodies that attack your thyroid tissue; these are known as autoantibodies. The mineral selenium helps promote healthy immune function, but a deficiency may affect autoantibody production. Replenishing selenium may help lower thyroid antibodies. Consult your health care provider to learn if supplementation with selenium is appropriate for your condition.
Autoimmunity
Your immune system is designed to protect you from foreign substances. In individuals with autoimmune disease, your immune system mistakenly identifies healthy tissue as foreign and produces antibodies that attack it. This ongoing attack prevents the specific organ from functioning optimally. More than 80 types of autoimmune diseases exist, according to Medline Plus. Grave's disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis are two autoimmune thyroid conditions associated with thyroid antibodies.
Thyroid
Your thyroid gland is a small organ that sits at the front of your throat. It produces two key hormones that regulate your metabolism. Thyroid hormones influence your energy levels, mood and sleep patterns. Individuals with autoimmune thyroid disease may experience fatigue, depression and changes in weight. You may experience goiter as well, which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Selenium
Selenium deficiency is associated with increased autoimmune thyroid antibodies. According to a study published in the April 2002 issue of "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism," researchers at the University of Munich found that Hashimoto's patients treated with 200 micrograms of selenium for three months experienced a 40-percent reduction in thyroid antibodies. Whether patients with Grave's disease will experience similar results is unknown.
Supplementation
Selenium is available as a dietary supplement in several forms. Sodium selenite is commonly used in clinical studies. Because the recommended dietary allowance is 55 mg, it is important to consult your doctor before taking higher than recommended amounts. Taking 200 mg of selenium over a long period of time may increase your diabetes risk, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Tell your doctor if you are currently taking any medication or have an existing medical conditions.
