During the production of thyroid hormones, hydrogen peroxide is generated and then removed by glutathione, a molecule that depends on selenium to function properly.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (2)
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Serum Selenium Status in Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders: A Case-control Study
This study found that people with thyroid problems often have low levels of selenium, a mineral needed to clean up harmful chemicals made during thyroid hormone production. Low selenium means the thyroid can’t protect itself well, which may cause or worsen thyroid disease.
Effects of variation in glutathione peroxidase activity on DNA damage and cell survival in human cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide.
This study shows that adding selenium helps a special protein use glutathione to clean up harmful hydrogen peroxide in human cells. Since the thyroid makes hydrogen peroxide and needs selenium to neutralize it, this supports the claim.
Contradicting (0)
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Gold Standard Evidence Needed
According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.