Hypothyroidism
Selenium: The Wonder Antioxidant For The Thyroid Gland
Sep 19, 2016Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder leading to the inflammation of the tiny butterfly-shaped selenium for thyroid gland situated in the throat. For reasons not yet clear to medical science, the body attacks it’s own thyroid gland, disrupting the production of thyroid hormone.
Some common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
- Weight Gain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dry Skin
- Dry Brittle Hair and Nails
- Hair Fall
- Cold Intolerance
- Puffy Eyes
- Weakness and Cramping of Muscles
- Hoarseness of Voice
- Constipation
- Slow Thinking
- Poor Memory and
- Irregular or Heavy Periods.
If you thought that was a long list, you can go to the really long list here. The thyroid gland impacts literally every cell in the body, and that’s the reason a malfunction there can produce so many varied symptoms.
How Does Selenium Help With Hashimoto’s?
Selenium is extremely important for the functioning of the thyroid gland and production of thyroxine. Selenium defends the body against oxidative stress, helps production of the thyroid hormone and regulates the metabolism of vitamin C. Known for its antioxidant properties, deficiency of selenium is also associated with an increased risk of cancers.
Research has shown that selenium improves both specific clinical symptoms and general well-being in people suffering from Hashimoto’s. In one study, selenium has also been shown to reduce the presence of auto immune antibodies in the blood (Tp-OAb i.e. peroxidase antibodies), that lead to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Another study showed that selenium supplementation during pregnancy may bring down the risk of post-pregnancy hypothyroidism in the mother.
Selenium does all this by linking with special proteins known as selenoproteins, which protect thyroid cells from damage. Fourteen selenoproteins are known to us, of which glutathione peroxidase is a major defender of the thyroid gland.
Selenium deficiency has been linked strongly with a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism and other thyroid diseases.
How Much Selenium?
Selenium Rich foods – Organ meats, sea-foods, dairy products etc
The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of 55 µg (0.7 µmol)/day of selenium for both men and women. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level i.e. the maximum safe daily dose of selenium for adults is 400 µg (5.1 µmol)/day. In the study cited in this article, 200-300 mcg was used safely as a daily supplement, to achieve a 20-50% reduction in thyroid antibodies over one year.
Selenium From Food Or From Supplements?
Per gram of food, these sources provide good amounts of selenium:
- organ meats and seafood have 0.4 to 1.5 µg
- muscle meats about 0.1 to 0.4 µg
- dairy products, less than 0.1- 0.3 µg
- fruits and vegetables, less than 0.1 µg
Since many of us eat most of the foods above, we should get enough selenium, right? Sadly, no. If 90% of thyroid disorders in the U.S. today are of the Hashimoto’s variety and selenium deficiency is hugely connected to the disorder, something simply doesn’t add up.
Here’s what happens. Unfortunately, the selenium in food is easily destroyed by processing. Even when eat foods meant to be rich in selenium, we often get the processed foods, so we don’t get the selenium we need. So if you have Hashimoto’s and want to get selenium from your food, stick to unprocessed whole food sources.
Selenium And Thyroid Medications
Levothyroxine is the standard medication used in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Popular brands in the U.S. include Synthroid, Levothroid and Levoxyl. By improving the efficiency of the thyroid gland, selenium can help you work with your medical provider to reduce the dose of your medication. While selenium supplements are usually taken on an empty stomach, at the same time as your thyroid medication, it would be best to involve your doctor to monitor your supplementation to avoid complications.
If you have a thyroid condition, eating the right food can help in a big way. Nature also has a huge bounty of other dietary supplements that modern research has shown to help with Hashimoto’s. Explore. Learn. Enjoy vibrant health.
Dr. Rachita is a practising doctor with a passion for prose. With over 6 years of medical writing experience for patients and doctors alike, this doctor-cum-entrepreneur loves learning and sharing knowledge.
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References:
- Gärtner R, Gasnier BC, Dietrich JW, Krebs B, Angstwurm MW. Selenium supplementation in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis decreases thyroid peroxidase antibodies concentrations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2002 Apr;87(4):1687-91
- Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids. Institute of Medicine (US) Panel on Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2000. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK225470/
- Sodium Selenite as an Anti-Cancer Agent. Lipinski B. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2016 Jun 6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27281365
- Köhrle J. Selenium and the thyroid. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2013 Oct;20(5):441-8.
- Drutel A, Archambeaud F, Caron P. Selenium and the thyroid gland: more good news for clinicians. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2013 Feb;78(2):155-64.
- Wu Q, Rayman MP, Lv H et al. Low Population Selenium Status Is Associated With Increased Prevalence of Thyroid Disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Nov;100(11):4037-47.
