According to findings reported at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in Denver, Colorado last week, supplementing with selenium may help to slow down the progression of autoimmune thyroid disease -- and may be particularly effective during the onset of thyroiditis.

The findings were reported by Munich, Germany physician Barbara Gasnier, of the Medizinische Klinik University.

The researchers believe that a deficiency in selenium may contribute in part to development of autoimmune thyroid problems because of selenium's impact on certain immune system enzymes.

The study looked at 72 women at an average age of 42, all who had autoimmune thyroiditis. In all the women, thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies and/or thyroglobulin (Tg) antibody levels were greater than 350 U/mL.

Half the patients received selenium supplementation for three months; the other half received a placebo. All patients were normalized on their thyroid hormone treatment. At the conclusion of the three-month period, autoantibody levels were measured.

Interesting, nine of the patients taking selenium supplementation had antibody levels that returned completely to normal.

Two members of the placebo control group had antibodies return to normal.

Among those in the selenium group, the mean TPO antibody levels decreased significantly in the selenium group. The higher the TPO at the onset of the test, the greater the reduction was seen in the TPO antibody levels at the end of the three months.

Selenium substitution with 200 micrograms of selenium may improve the inflammatory activity in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, but whether this effect is specific for autoimmune thyroiditis or may also be effective in other organ-specific autoimmune diseases has to be investigated.

Dr. Gasnier has indicated that the selenium may be increasing peroxidase activity, lowering free radicals, and reducing inflammation.

Mary Shomon Thyroid Expert Guide at About.com June 25, 2001

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

Many thanks to Mary for finding this important piece of information regarding a quite common thyroid problem. It is likely that most cases of autoimmune thyroiditis involve a viral infection. Working with this knowledge, it would make sense to consider using selenium as a supplement in treating this problem as selenium has a well recognized benefit of inhibiting chronic viral replication.

I would be cautious about using much more than 200 micrograms of selenium, though. It may be indicated, but should only be done under the direction of a knowledgeable health care professional (not necessarily a doctor).

Having said that, I don't want to leave you with the impression that resolving this complex problem is as simple as swallowing a vitamin pill. It is not.

Of course, following the food choice program is an essential element of the treatment.

Additionally, the therapists at our clinic have been able to help a number of people resolve this problem with energetic rebalancing of many of the acupuncture meridians. The problem typically tends to result from emotional traumas initially developed in the person's early child years and are triggered by events as an adult.

The recovery from this problem is quite profound and these patients do not require any form of thyroid hormone replacement as the cause of their problem is addressed and the body and the thyroid gland revert back to their normal function.

From Mercola.com.