The Study
Effects of Selenium Supplementation on Graves' Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
This study looked at many small experiments where some people took selenium pills and others didn’t. It found that selenium seemed to help lower some thyroid chemicals for a few months, but then the effect went away. It doesn’t prove selenium fixes Graves’ disease—it just shows a possible short-term link.
Analysis score
Maximum 100 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
Selenium pills temporarily help lower some thyroid hormones in people with Graves' disease who are already on medicine, but the effect doesn't last.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 539 / 100
Quality score
The highest quality evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that pool randomized controlled trials, giving the most reliable summary of experimental evidence.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The changes are real but short-lived and don't translate to feeling better, fewer relapses, or improved eyes.
- 2At 3–6 months: FT4 dropped by 0.86, FT3 by 0.34, TRAb dropped, TSH rose slightly.
- 3At 9 months: all levels returned to normal.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM
Year
2018
Authors
Huijuan Zheng, Junping Wei, Liansheng Wang, Qiuhong Wang, Jinrong Zhao, Shuya Chen, Fan Wei
Related Content
Claims (6)
Taking selenium supplements is associated with lower levels of antibodies that attack the thyroid in people diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease.
Taking selenium supplements at 100–300 micrograms per day for 3 to 6 months may lead to a small rise in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in adults with Graves' disease who are on antithyroid drugs, but this change does not continue after 6 months.
There is no clear evidence that taking selenium supplements improves key outcomes for people with Graves' disease, such as reducing relapses, improving quality of life, or easing eye symptoms.
In adults with Graves' disease taking antithyroid medication, taking selenium supplements at 100–300 μg per day for 3 to 6 months lowers levels of FT3 and FT4 hormones in the blood, but these reductions do not remain after 9 months of treatment.
Taking selenium supplements daily at 100–300 micrograms for six months may lower levels of antibodies targeting the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor in adults with Graves' disease who are on antithyroid drugs, but this reduction does not last beyond nine months.
Taking selenium supplements does not keep thyroid hormone levels improved in people with Graves' disease beyond six months; after nine months, these levels return to what they were before treatment, even if supplementation continues.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.