In people with mild to moderate Graves ophthalmopathy in areas where selenium levels are adequate, taking 200 mcg of selenium daily for 3 to 6 months does not change the levels of...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
Selenium helps clean up harmful molecules in the tissues behind the eyes, which reduces swelling and discomfort. It does not change the antibodies that attack the thyroid, because those remain stable regardless of selenium intake.
Most probable mechanism
Selenium gets used to make proteins that clean up harmful molecules in the eye socket tissues, which reduces swelling and damage without changing the antibodies that target the thyroid.
Oral selenium is absorbed and incorporated into selenocysteine for synthesis of selenoproteins
Selenoproteins (e.g., glutathione peroxidases, thioredoxin reductases) increase antioxidant capacity in orbital fibroblasts and adipocytes
Reduced reactive oxygen species decrease activation of orbital fibroblasts and suppress pro-inflammatory cytokine production
Decreased inflammation reduces edema, adipogenesis, and fibrosis in orbital tissues, leading to reduced proptosis and improved clinical activity score
Thyrotropin-receptor and thyroid peroxidase antibody levels remain unchanged throughout supplementation due to absence of modulation of B-cell autoantibody production or T-cell helper responses
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Community contributions welcome
Selenium vs Control for Graves Ophthalmopathy in a Selenium-Sufficient Area: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Contradicting (0)
Community contributions welcome
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.