Is anyone supplementing with Selenium for their thyroid issues ?

Anonymous

Hello, came upon this while researching on thyroid :

The trace element selenium and the thyroid gland.

Köhrle J.

Source

Abteilung für Molekulare Innere Medizin und Klinische Forschergruppe der Medizinischen Poliklinik der Universität Würzburg, Germany.

Abstract

Apart from the essential trace element iodine, which is the central constituent of thyroid hormones, a second essential trace element, selenium, is required for appropriate thyroid hormone synthesis, activation and metabolism. The human thyroid gland has the highest selenium content per gram of tissue among all organs. Several selenocysteine-containing proteins respectively enzymes are functionally expressed in the thyroid, mainly in thyrocytes themselves: three forms of glutathione peroxidases (cGPx, pGPx, and PH-GPx), the type I 5-deiodinase, thioredoxin reductase and selenoprotein P. The thyroidal expression of type II 5-deiodinase still is controversial. As thyrocytes produce H2O2 continuously throughout life an effective cell defense system against H2O2 and reactive oxygen intermediates derived thereof is essential for maintenance of normal thyroid function and protection of the gland. In experimental animal models long-term and strong selenium deficiency leads to necrosis and fibrosis after high iodide loads. Combined iodide and selenium deficiency such as in central Zaire is thought to cause the myxedematous form of endemic cretinism. Inadequate selenium supply and prediagnostically low serum selenium levels are significantly correlated with the development of thyroid carcinoma and other tumors. Though selenium supply controls expression and translation of selenocysteine-containing proteins no direct correlation is found between selenium tissue content and expression of various thyroidal selenoproteins, indicating that other regulatory factors contribute to or override selenium-dependent expression control, e.g., in thyroid adenoma, carcinoma or autoimmune disease. As both trace elements, iodine and selenium, were washed out from the upper layers of the soil during and after the ice ages in many regions of the world adequate supply with these essential compounds needs to be provided either by a balanced diet or supplementation.

PMID:

10403185

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

SJW1

Hi Luan,

I was diagnosed in 2007 with DCIS and my PCP found a thyroid nodule in December of 2010. I am supplementing with iodine/iodide now and my multivitamin has 100mcg of selenium. My "prevent" doc just agreed that it might not be a bad idea to also add another 50mcg of selenium as it is protective for all types of cancer.

Best,

Sandie

Anonymous

Hi Sandie, thanks, I'll be getting additional selenium and add it to my list of vitamins to take which is getting longer by the day... this article has convinced me.

A thyroid nodule was found on me 20 years ago, they never medicated me and I always felt they should have.  Those darn blood tests standards are bogus, they keep changing them all the time. Your nodule would mean you're hypo ? 

I'm seeing my endocrino tomorrow who says "Blood normal, but clinical signs of hyper" .....whatever that means... and that's why I've been trying to find out as much as possible re iodine/iodide.  Not much hope with him though, the last time I saw him, I asked whether thyroid and BC could be related.  He said absolutely not, and "whoever made you a doctor anyway?"  DA !!!  I suspect I'll have to find me a new endocrino.  My aunt had thyroid cancer before developing breast cancer and I want to do as much prevention as can.  Don't want no recurrence.  Thank you.

The more I dig, the more really important info I'm finding, my Ferritin borders around 0 and the endo never tested me for it, the GP does, because I ask him to monitor my levels which never go up , so can't wait to see the endo armed with this info !

"A large body of thyroid patients have been surprised to discover that being hypothyroid also results in having low Ferritin, or storage iron"