Selenium intake score in thyroid patient

Introduction. The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system and produces
thyroid hormones, which play an important role in metabolic health. To enable
normal thyroid hormone synthesis and function micronutrients are needed, in
particular iodine and selenium. However, thyroid dysfunction is common with
autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) being the most prevalent of organ-specific
autoimmune diseases and affecting 2–5% of the population. Common AITD
include Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto Thyroiditis. Several studies suggest
beneficial effect of selenium supplementation on thyroid autoimmunity.
Objective. We aimed to evaluate tools for selenium intake estimation in patients
with thyroid diseases.
Methods. Biochemical tests were performed, and food frequency questionnaire
(FFQ) used to analyse selenium intake and calculate Selenium Intake Score
(SIS) [1]. Results are shown as median (Interquartile range). IBM SPSS was used
to calculate results.
Results. A total of 89 subjects was analysed in this study, 74 of them women,
median age 30.5 years (26.0–46.0). Hashimoto thyroiditis was present in 48.3%,
Graves’ Disease in 12.6% of subjects, 39.1% were controls. Median serum
selenium concentration was 79.04 µg/L (60.09–112.58). Median SIS in the total
study population was 164 (123–225). Serum Selenium correlated with SIS:
Spearman’s rho 0.28, p=0.012. SIS was 164.4 (121.7–213.9) in control group,
166.6 (125.8–230.2) in Hashimoto thyroiditis group and 166.0 (108.7–243.4) in
Grave’s Disease group, p=0.868. The main food groups contributing to higher SIS were fish and seafood, poultry, pork and pasta/rice.
Conclusions. Food frequency questionnaire showed to be an adequate tool to
estimate Serum intake in thyroid patients. Meat products, fish, pasta or rice are
recommended as natural sources of dietary selenium. Further studies need to be
carried out to evaluate the relevance of selenium intake and supplementation in
patients with different thyroid diseases.