by Mary J. Shomon

October, 2002 -- German researchers have found that in areas with severe selenium deficiency, there is a higher incidence of thyroiditis due to a reduction in the activity of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase in thyroid cells. Selenium-dependent enzymes also have a number of effects on the immune system, and selenium deficiency can contribute to the development and continuation of autoimmune thyroid diseases. In the study, patients received 200 micrograms of sodium selenite supplements over three months. Thyroid antibody levels decreased by as much as 40 to 63%, and a small percentage of patients in the selenium-treated group had antibody levels that completely returned to normal. The researchers concluded that selenium supplementation may reduce inflammation in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Source: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol. 87, No. 4 1490-1498