Among patients with mild Graves’ ophthalmopathy, taking selenium supplements for six months is linked to a lower rate of eye pain compared to those not taking supplements, with 4.76% of supplemented...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
Selenium helps the body make proteins that clean up harmful molecules behind the eye. This stops the immune system from causing swelling and pressure in that area. When the swelling goes down, the pain stops.
Most probable mechanism
Selenium enters the body through the gut and gets used to make special proteins that clean up harmful molecules in the eye socket. These clean-up proteins stop the immune system from overreacting, which reduces swelling and pressure in the tissues behind the eye, leading to less pain.
Oral selenium is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and transported to orbital tissues via selenoprotein P
Selenium is incorporated into selenoproteins such as glutathione peroxidases and thioredoxin reductases within orbital fibroblasts and infiltrating immune cells
Selenoproteins reduce hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides, lowering oxidative stress in orbital tissues
Reduced oxidative stress inhibits activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in orbital fibroblasts
Suppressed NF-κB signaling decreases production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ
Lower cytokine levels reduce recruitment and activation of T cells and macrophages in orbital fat and muscle
Decreased immune cell infiltration and cytokine activity reduce vascular permeability, edema, and tissue remodeling in orbital soft tissues
Reduced tissue swelling and pressure on nerves and structures in the retrobulbar space eliminates spontaneous pain
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Contradicting (0)
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