Association of selenium with thyroid volume and echostructure in 35- to 60-year-old French adults

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between selenium status, thyroid volume and gland echostructure. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: In 792 men (45-60 years) and 1108 women (35-60 years) from the SU.VI.MAX study, thyroid volume and gland echostructure were determined ultrasonographically. At baseline, thyrotropin, free thyroxine, selenium, zinc, a-tocopherol, b-carotene, retinol, urinary iodine and thiocyanate concentrations were measured. Alcohol consumption, smoking, and menopausal status were assessed by a questionnaire. A stepwise linear and a logistic regression model were used, adjusting for antioxidant vitamins, trace elements status and age. Results: In women, there was an inverse association between selenium status and thyroid volume ðP ¼ 0:003Þ: A protective effect of selenium against goiter (odds ratio ðORÞ ¼ 0:07; 95% confidence interval ðCIÞ ¼ 0:008 -0:6) and thyroid tissue damage ðOR ¼ 0:2; 95% CI ¼ 0:06 -0:7Þ was observed. There was no evidence of an association between menopausal status and other antioxidant elements, thyroid volume or thyroid hypoechogenicity. Smoking, but not alcohol consumption, was associated with an increased risk of thyroid enlargement in women ðOR ¼ 3:94; 95% CI ¼ 1:64 -9:48Þ: No association between thyroid volume, thyroid structure or selenium was found in men. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that selenium may protect against goiter. Selenium was related to thyroid echostructure, suggesting it may also protect against autoimmune thyroid disease.

Does selenium supplementation affect thyroid function? Results from a randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial in a Danish population

“…Interestingly, serum selenium concentration was inversely associated with thyroid volume and goiter in the same population (11). Similar observations in a study among French women (12) support that the thyroid gland also responds to selenium intake at marginal deficiency, where the activity of at least a subset of selenoproteins is not maximized (13). Subsequent intervention studies of the effects of selenium supplementation on thyroid function have yielded equivocal results.…”

Micronutrient intake and status in Central and Eastern Europe compared with other European countries, results from the EURRECA network

“…CEE adults from Czech Republic and Hungary had mean Zn status concentrations (13-17 mmol/l) comparable to those in Western European countries (range mean: 13-14 mmol/l) (41)(42)(43) and higher than the reference value. Mean status levels for Polish and Czech children were in the range from 12 to 15 mmol/l (above the cut-offs), and similar to findings from other European countries such as the UK (15 mmol/l) (44) .…”

Symposium on ‘Geographical and geological influences on nutrition’ Factors controlling the distribution of selenium in the environment and their impact on health and nutrition

“…Akbaraly et al (77) RCT have found that Se supplementation tends to reduce mortality Bjelakovic et al (78) Thyroid effects The iodothyronine deiodinases that produce the active form of thyroid hormone are selenoenzymes, while the antioxidant selenoenzyme GPx is required for the protection of the thyroid from the H 2 O 2 produced there Arthur & Beckett (79) Severe Se deficiency occurs in the endemic goitre belt of north Zaire, which together with iodine deficiency gives rise to myxoedematous cretinism Vanderpas et al (80) An inverse association has been found between Se status and thyroid volume, thyroid tissue damage and goitre in French women Derumeaux et al (81) In RCT in patients with thyroid peroxidase antibodies or autoimmune thyroiditis Se supplementation decreases inflammation and thyroid antibody concentrations and prevents postpartum hypothyroidism Summarised in Rayman (9) GPx, glutathione peroxidise; NHANES III, Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; RCT, randomised controlled trials.…”