The Study
Supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 in an elderly Swedish population low in selenium — positive effects on thyroid hormones, cardiovascular mortality, and quality of life
This study gave some older people pills with selenium and CoQ10 and others fake pills, then watched what happened over four years. It found that the real pills changed their thyroid hormones in a good way and seemed to help them live longer and feel better. But we can't say this will work for everyone—only for people like them who didn't have enough selenium to start with.
Analysis score
Maximum 45 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Older people with low selenium often have sluggish thyroid function, which can make them feel tired and increase heart risks. This study gave them selenium and coenzyme Q10 daily for 4 years to see if it helped.
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 545 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — seniors taking the supplements felt more energetic, had less pain, and were less likely to die from heart problems over 10 years compared to those who didn't.
- 2After 4 years, those who took the supplements had 20% higher fT3 (active thyroid hormone), lower fT4, and less TSH rise than placebo group; heart death risk and low energy levels linked to poor thyroid levels disappeared in the supplement group.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
BMC Medicine
Year
2024
Authors
U. Alehagen, J. Alexander, J. Aaseth, A. Larsson, T. Opstad
Related Content
Claims (10)
In older adults with low selenium levels, low levels of the thyroid hormone fT3 are linked to poorer mental and physical well-being. Taking selenium and coenzyme Q10 supplements removes this link and improves energy levels, reduces bodily pain, and enhances social functioning.
Elderly people with low selenium levels who took selenium and coenzyme Q10 supplements for four years had lower rates of death from heart disease over 10 years, especially if their thyroid hormone levels were initially elevated.
In older adults with low selenium levels, taking 200 micrograms of selenium and 200 milligrams of coenzyme Q10 daily for four years is associated with an increase in free triiodothyronine and a decrease in free thyroxine, indicating a change in thyroid hormone conversion that may influence metabolic and cardiovascular health.
In older adults with low selenium levels, blood selenium below 80 µg/L is linked to higher thyroid-stimulating hormone and lower free triiodothyronine, reflecting altered thyroid hormone metabolism without diagnosed thyroid disease.
Among older adults with low selenium levels, taking selenium and coenzyme Q10 supplements for four years leads to a smaller rise in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and fewer people reaching the diagnostic threshold for subclinical hypothyroidism compared to those taking a placebo.
The body converts the thyroid hormone T4 into its active form, T3, using enzymes that require selenium as a component.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.