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Selenium is an essential mineral that is required for many vital functions in the body – namely healthy thyroid functionality.

The importance of selenium supplementation comes from the benefits it has, along with the risks that are likely to occur, in case of selenium deficiency, such as keshan disease, myxedematous cretinism, Graves’ disease, and thyroid destruction.

The term essential we use throughout this article means that it cannot be produced on its own.

For instance, Selenium is an essential mineral in the sense that the body can’t synthesize selenium on its own.

We need to ensure to get sufficient amounts of selenium from dietary sources.

Selenium benefits are not restricted to the thyroid; but also, are involved in improving other issues as well relating to weight loss and hormone balances.

Before talking about what selenium can do for the thyroid and those with thyroid disorders, it is important to highlight the functions of the thyroid itself.

Importance of selenium supplementation

Selenium levels should be within be kept within the recommend normal levels. Otherwise people who are not getting sufficient amounts of selenium are likely to develop one or more of the following disorders, including:

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis disorder

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis disorder causes the thyroid gland to become inflamed. This in turn makes the thyroid secrete much higher amounts of the thyroid hormones for a while, and then periods where the thyroid gland produces much lesser amounts, compared to the normal thyroid.

Basically, similar to how a rollercoaster goes up and down very quickly.

Hypothyroidism

Along with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis disorder, people with selenium deficiency are more likely to develop hypothyroidism, which directly causes the thyroid gland to produce lower amounts of the thyroid hormones.

Hypothyroidism can result in many issues, because of the vital functions that mainly depend on the thyroid hormones. For example,

• Heartbeat disturbance ^[i]
• Low body temperature ^[ii]
• Disorders of the nervous system ^[iii]
• Disruption of the normal metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, causing accumulation of wastes inside the body cells, and thus toxicity ^[iv].

Signs and symptoms of selenium deficiency

The signs and symptoms noticed on people with selenium deficiency differ, according to the stage and severity of deficiency. General symptoms include:

• Feeling pain in the muscles, especially experienced during movement.
• Muscle weakness
• Hair discoloration
• Skin discoloration
• The fingernails’ beds may tend to be white.

Benefits of selenium on the thyroid

As the thyroid gland is involved in many vital functions in the body, both selenium deficiency and adequate intake can have significant impacts on health. Below is a list of a few examples of selenium benefits on the thyroid.

The primary benefit selenium supplementation can have on the thyroid is to synthesize certain compounds known as seleno-proteins, which are essential for both thyroid hormones synthesis and utilization.

According to a study of sixty-eight obese females with hypothyroid, supplementation with zinc alone or combined with selenium had a beneficial effect on those with hypothyroidism ^[v]. The number of thyroid hormones in their body increased significantly.

Aiding and improving the metabolism of thyroid hormones, which can never be processed without selenium, as it is essentially involved in the synthesis of an enzyme named iodothyronine deiodinases. ^[vi]

Another benefit selenium has is that along with iodine and vitamin A, it can help the body get rid of substances that can harm the thyroid, such as:

Decreasing the anti-thyroid anti-bodies. ^[vii]

Decreasing the percentage of both postpartum thyroiditis and definitive hypothyroidism in pregnant women.

Benefits of thyroid on all stages of life

Keeping selenium within normal levels in the body has benefits that extend to all stages of life.

According to Köhrle J. (2015), keeping selenium, iron and iodine within normal levels in the circulation, selenoprotein P positively affects the thyroid gland’s ability to normally perform its functions, through all stages of life, including development, adolescence, adulthood and aging ^[viii].

Generally, the benefits selenium supplementation provides to thyroid and those with thyroid disorders include:

Regulation of thyroid hormone production.

Improving the conversion rate of thyroxine (T4) to the active form known as triiodothyronine (T3).

Providing a continuous protection for the thyroid tissues from stress.

How to take selenium safely and effectively?

Although selenium supplementation is a must for all people in order to keep their bodies healthy; it is worth mentioning that getting higher amounts of selenium than required can negatively deteriorate some functions in the body.

That’s why people need to be aware enough of how much selenium they should take, in order to keep selenium levels within the limits that are both effective and harmless.

How much selenium is required daily?

According to Food and Nutrition Board, the daily amount of selenium people need differs from a certain group of people to another, and it even differs from a certain age to another, as follows:

• Infants up to 6 months of age need to get 15 μg of selenium daily.
• Infants ranging from 6 months to 1 year need to get 20 μg of selenium per day.
• Children from 1 to 3 years need to get 20 μg of selenium per day; while children ranging from 4 to 8 years need to get 30 µg of selenium daily.
• Males and females ranging from 9 to 13 years of age need to get 40 µg of selenium daily.
• Males and females above 13 years, extending to more than 70 years old need to get 55 µg of selenium daily.
• In terms of pregnant women, they need to get 60 µg of selenium daily; while breast-feeding women need to get 70 μg of selenium per day.

In order to avoid the risks too much selenium can result in, the Food and Nutrition Board has determined the Upper Tolerable Intake levels of selenium for all people, as shown below.

The Upper Tolerable Intake levels determine how much selenium people can administer safely each day.

• Infants up to six months age at most should get 45 µg of selenium per day.
• Infants who range from 6months to 1 year at most should get 60 µg of selenium daily.
• Children from 1 to 3 years at most should get 90 µg of selenium daily; while children ranging from 4 to 8 years at most should get 150 µg of selenium daily.
• Males and females ranging from 9 to 13 years of age at most should get 280 µg of selenium daily.
• Males and females above 13 years, extending to more than 70 years old at most should get 4000 µg of selenium daily.
• In terms of pregnant and breast-feeding women, at most should get 400 µg of selenium daily ^[ix].

Who needs selenium supplementation?

Everyone who wants to have healthy thyroid functionality should get adequate and continuous selenium supplementation.

However, certain groups of people need more selenium than others do, especially those who are more prone to develop selenium deficiency. Those groups include:

People who are suffering from digestive disorders that can negatively affect the absorption of nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract, and those struggling with digestive disorders that negatively affect their appetite and the ability to consume certain foods, such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

People who are not familiar with eating varied foods (these are likely to develop selenium deficiency.)

Sources of selenium

Below is a list of all foods from which you can get high amounts of thyroid. Along with foods, it’d be an important tip to consider multivitamin supplements containing selenium so as to ensure getting the required amounts of selenium on daily basis. For the previously mentioned groups that are more prone to selenium deficiency, selenium containing supplements are a perfect choice.

• Brazil nuts, whole wheat bread. Seeds and oysters.
• Tuna and seafood
• Chicken, pork and beef.
• Onions, cabbage, garlic and cauliflower.
• Vegetables in the broccoli family such as kale. Note: those vegetables should be cooked or steamed prior to consumption.
• Turkey and lamb.

References