Taking selenium supplements is associated with lower levels of antibodies that attack the thyroid in people diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (5)
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This study found that pregnant women who took selenium supplements had lower levels of harmful thyroid antibodies after giving birth, while those who took a placebo had higher levels. So yes, selenium seems to help reduce these antibodies in people with thyroid autoimmunity.
Effect of selenium on thyroid autoimmunity and regulatory T cells in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: A prospective randomized‐controlled trial
This study found that taking selenium supplements helped lower harmful antibodies in people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a common autoimmune thyroid condition. It suggests selenium may calm the immune system’s attack on the thyroid.
Challenges and perspectives of selenium supplementation in Graves’ disease and orbitopathy
This study found that taking selenium supplements might help lower harmful antibodies in people with an autoimmune thyroid problem, especially in mild cases, though more research is still needed.
Effects of Selenium Supplementation on Graves' Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
This study found that taking selenium supplements helped lower harmful antibodies in the thyroid of people with Graves' disease, at least for a few months. So yes, selenium seems to help reduce these antibodies.
Insufficient evidence to support the clinical efficacy of selenium supplementation for patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis
Taking selenium supplements was shown to lower certain antibodies that attack the thyroid in people with autoimmune thyroid disease. But doctors still don’t recommend it widely because it doesn’t seem to improve how the thyroid works overall and might cause side effects.
Contradicting (1)
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This study found that taking selenium supplements made the immune system attack the thyroid more, not less, in people with Hashimoto's disease. So selenium didn't help—it made things worse.
Gold Standard Evidence Needed
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