The correlation between selenium levels and autoimmune thyroid disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Immunology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) affects thyroid function and hormone levels.
• Selenium is a crucial trace element with potential immunomodulatory effects.
• Understanding selenium's role in AITD is vital for therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate selenium levels in AITD patients.
• To assess the efficacy of selenium supplementation in managing AITD.
• To analyze the impact of selenium on thyroid hormone and antibody levels.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major scientific databases.
• Included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2000 and 2020.
• Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 with risk of bias assessment.

Main Results:

• Selenium supplementation significantly reduced serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels.
• A notable decrease was observed in anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels.
• No significant changes were found in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) or anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb) levels.

Conclusions:

• Selenium-containing drugs demonstrate effectiveness in treating AITD.
• Selenium supplementation positively impacts FT3, FT4, and TPOAb levels in AITD patients.
• The findings underscore the significant role of selenium in AITD management.