Selenium and the Thyroid – How This Simple Mineral Can Make a Big Difference
Selenium has been gaining popularity in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, especially autoimmune thyroiditis. While comprehensive personalized treatments need to be given for those with autoimmune diseases, selenium may be an excellent addition to treatment protocols for autoimmune thyroiditis. Let’s look into how it works and why it can be so beneficial.
Selenium is a mineral found in soil and water and enters our food through the roots of plants and aquatic animals. The name selenium is derived from the word “selene”, which translates to “goddess of the moon”. While selenium is naturally widely distributed in soil and water worldwide, current farming practices have had a profound influence on the selenium content in our food, increasing selenium deficiency in many parts of the world. While selenium can be found in any fruit or vegetable in low amounts, foods that are naturally high in selenium include vegetables, such as onions, asparagus, garlic, and greens from the Brassica family (e.g. cabbage, broccoli and mustard). Brazil nuts are also known to be naturally rich in selenium. For those with autoimmune thyroiditis or other autoimmune conditions benefiting from selenium, natural doses from foods are often not high enough to have a substantial beneficial effect.
So what is the effect of selenium in the body and why is it so impactful? When selenium is absorbed in the body, it binds to amino acids to form proteins, or what are generally called selenoproteins. Selenoproteins are used as cofactors in the body to activate enzymes that are essential to normal cell functioning. Selenium is also involved in an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase, which is one of the main antioxidant enzymes involved in neutralizing free radicals in the body. Free radicals are produced in a cell under normal physiological conditions, but if there are too many, or they aren’t neutralized fast enough, they can cause damage to DNA, cell membranes and other cell structures. This produces mass inflammation in the area of cell damage, which can also lead to inflammation in other parts of the body. Selenium is involved in reducing these free radicals, which reduces both local and systemic inflammation.
Selenium is especially important for the thyroid, and selenium deficiency has been strongly correlated with thyroid disease. The thyroid tissue naturally produces a powerful free radical called hydrogen peroxide during its processing of iodine to make thyroid hormone. If the thyroid is producing too much hydrogen peroxide and there is not enough glutathione peroxidase to neutralize it, it can cause damage to the thyroid cells. This inflammation is thought to be a major contributor to the production of anti-TPO antibodies – the main antibodies in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. When selenium is given, it helps the body to create more glutathione peroxidase, which then decreases the inflammation in the tissue, thereby reducing thyroid antibodies in the process. Several studies have shown that appropriate selenium supplementation has led to a decrease in both the TPO antibodies seen in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and the TG antibodies seen in Graves’ disease.
Although selenium can be very beneficial in helping to reduce autoimmunity in thyroid disease, supplementation of selenium should be monitored by a physician. Normal levels of supplementation are generally safe for a majority of the population, but selenium toxicity does exist and can lead to chronic illness or acute poisoning. If you have an autoimmune thyroid condition and would like to know more about how selenium can help you reduce your antibody levels and help improve your quality of life, call our office today to schedule a complimentary 10-minute consultation with one of our highly trained physicians!
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