Selenium Supplementation in Graves' Orbitopathy: Effects on Blood Concentrations and Clinical Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Endocrinology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is an autoimmune condition affecting the eye socket.
• Selenium is an essential trace element with antioxidant properties that may benefit GO.
• Previous studies suggest a potential role for selenium in managing GO, but evidence is varied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of selenium supplementation on blood selenium concentrations in patients with GO.
• To evaluate the clinical outcomes associated with selenium supplementation in GO patients of varying severity.
• To explore the potential benefits of selenium therapy in GO management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for 48 GO patients receiving 210 µg/day selenium for six months.
• Assessment of clinical parameters including visual acuity, exophthalmos, eyelid aperture, Clinical Activity Score (CAS), GO severity, and GO Quality of Life (GO-QoL) scores.
• Subgroup analysis for patients not receiving concurrent GO treatments.

Main Results:

• Mean selenium concentrations significantly increased from 90.46±16.40 µg/L to 113.67±19.64 µg/L (P<0.001).
• In patients without other GO treatments, CAS improved (35.13%, P=0.02) and eyelid edema decreased (P=0.03).
• GO-QoL appearance subscale scores significantly improved (P=0.04), while visual function scores did not show significant changes.

Conclusions:

• Selenium supplementation effectively raises blood selenium levels in GO patients.
• The therapy demonstrated significant improvements in clinical activity, eyelid edema, and quality of life.
• Further randomized controlled trials are recommended to confirm findings and establish optimal dosage for GO management.