Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-gs9qr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-31T03:59:35.421Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of selenium on thyroid status in a population with marginal selenium and iodine status

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

Christine D. Thomson ,
Sarah K. McLachlan ,
Andrea M. Grant ,
Elaine Paterson  and
Anna J. Lillico
Christine D. Thomson*
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Sarah K. McLachlan
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Andrea M. Grant
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Elaine Paterson
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Anna J. Lillico
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
*
*Corresponding author: Associate Professor Christine D. Thomson, fax +64 3 479 7958, email christine.thomson@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The effects of Se on thyroid metabolism in a New Zealand population are investigated, including (a) the relationship between Se and thyroid status, and (b) the effect of Se supplementation on thyroid status. The data used come from two cross-sectional studies of Se, I, thyroid hormones and thyroid volume (studies 1 and 4), and three Se intervention studies in which thyroid hormones, Se and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were measured (studies 2, 3 and 5). There were no significant correlations between Se status and measures of thyroid status after controlling for sex at baseline or after supplementation in any of the studies. When data from study 4 were divided into two groups according to plasma Se, plasma thyroxine (T4) was lower in males with higher plasma Se levels (P=0·009). Se supplementation increased plasma Se and GPx activity, but produced only small changes in plasma T4 and triiodothyronine (T3):T4 ratio. In study 2, there was a significant reduction in plasma T4 (P=0·0045). In studies 3 and 5 there were small decreases in plasma T4 and a small increase in the T3:T4 ratio, which were not significantly different from placebo groups. Lack of significant associations between plasma Se and thyroid status, and only small changes in T4 suggest that Se status in New Zealand is close to adequate for the optimal function of deiodinases. Adequate plasma Se may be approximately 0·82–0·90 μmol/l, compared with 1·00–1·14 μmol/l for maximal GPx activities.

Keywords

SeleniumIodineThyroid statusNew Zealand

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 94 , Issue 6 , December 2005 , pp. 962 - 968
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2005

References

Arthur, JR & Beckett, GJ (1999) Thyroid function. Br Med Bull 55, 658–668.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arthur, JR, Beckett, GJ & Mitchell, JH (1999) The interactions between selenium and iodine deficiencies in man and animals. Nutr Res Rev 12, 55–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berger, MM, Lemarchand-Béraud, T, Cavadini, C & Chioléro, R (1996) Relations between the selenium status and the low T 3 syndrome after major trauma. Intensive Care Med 22, 575–581.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berger, MM, Reymond, MJ, Shenkin, A, Rey, F, Wardle, C, Cayeux, C, Schindler, C & Chiolero, RL (2001) Influence of selenium supplements on the post-traumatic alterations of the thyroid axis: a placebo-controlled trial. Intensive Care Med 27, 91–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calomme, MR, Vanderpas, JB, Francois, B, Van Caillie-Bertrand, M, Herchuelz, A, Vanovervelt, N, Van Hoorebeke, C & Vanden Berghe, DA (1995) Thyroid function parameters during a selenium repletion/depletion study in phenylketonuric subjects. Experentia 51, 1208–1215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chanoine, J-P, Neve, J, Wu, S, Vanderpas, J & Bourdoux, P (2001) Selenium decreases thyroglobulin concentrations but does not affect the increased thyroxine-to-triiodothyronine ratio in children with congenital hypothyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86, 1160–1163.Google Scholar
Cinaz, P, Karakas, DS, Camurdan, MO, Bideci, A, Ayvali, ED & Yucel, C (2004) Goiter prevalence, serum selenium, and urine iodine status in a previously iodine-deficient area in Turkey. Biol Trace Elem Res 100, 185–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Combs, GF Jr (2001) Selenium in global food systems. Br J Nutr 85, 517–547.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Diplock, A (1993) Indexes of selenium status in human populations. Am J Clin Nutr 57, 256S–258S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duffield, AJ & Thomson, CD (1999) A comparison of methods of assessment of dietary selenium intakes in Otago, New Zealand. Br J Nutr 82, 131–138.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duffield, AJ, Thomson, CD, Hill, KE & Williams, S (1999) An estimation of selenium requirements for New Zealanders. Am J Clin Nutr 70, 896–903.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Erdogan, M, Erdogan, G, Sav, H, Gullu, S & Kamel, N (2001) Endemic goiter, thiocyanate overload, and selenium status in school-age children. Biol Trace Elem Res 79, 121–130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jacobson, BH & Lockitch, G (1988) Direct determination of selenium in serum by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with deuterium background detection and a reduced palladium modifier: age-specific reference ranges. Clin Chem 34, 709–714.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kvícala, J, Zamrazil, V, Soutorová, M & Tomíska, F (1995) Correlations between parameters of body selenium status and peripheral thyroid parameters in the low selenium region. Analyst 120, 959–965.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Larsen, EH, Hansen, M, Paulin, H, Moesgaard, S, Reid, M & Rayman, M (2004) Speciation and bioavailability of selenium in yeast-based intervention agents used in cancer chemoprevention studies. J AOAC Int 87, 225–232.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moxon, RED & Dixon, EJ (1980) Semi-automatic method for the determination of total iodine in foods. Analyst 105, 344–352.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Napolitano, G, Bonomini, M, Bomba, G, Bucci, I, Todisco, V, Albertazzi, A & Monaco, F (1996) Thyroid function and plasma selenium in chronic uremic patients on hemodialysis treatment. Biol Trace Elem Res 55, 221–230.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olivieri, O, Girelli, D, Azzini, M, Stanzila, AM, Russo, C, Ferroni, M & Corrocher, R (1995) Low selenium status in the elderly influences thyroid hormones. Clin Sci 89, 637–642.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olivieri, O, Girelli, D & Stanzial, AM (1996) Selenium, zinc, and thyroid hormones in healthy subjects. Biol Trace Elem Res 51, 31–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paglia, DC & Valentine, WN (1967) Studies on quantitative and qualitative characterization of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. J Lab Clin Med 70, 158–169.Google ScholarPubMed
Paterson, E (2000) Selenium, oxidant stress and smoking. PhD Thesis, University of Otago.Google Scholar
Pettersson, J, Hansson, L, Ornemark, U & Olin, A (1988) Fluorimetry of selenium in body fluids after digestion with nitric acid, magnesium nitrate hexahydrate, and hydrochloric acid. Clin Chem 34, 1908–1910.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ravaglia, G, Forti, P, Maioli, F, Nesi, B, Pratelli, L, Savarino, L, Cucinotta, D & Cavalli, G (2000) Blood micronutrient and thyroid hormone concentrations in the oldest-old. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85, 2260–2265.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rayman, MP (2004) The use of high-selenium yeast to raise selenium status: how does it measure up?. Br J Nutr 92, 557–573.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, MF (1989) Selenium in human nutrition in New Zealand. Nutr Rev 47, 99–107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Skeaff, S, Ferguson, E, Valeix, P, Gibson, R & Thomson, CD (2005) Are breast-fed infants and toddlers in New Zealand at risk of iodine deficiency?. Nutrition 21, 325–331.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Skeaff, SA, Thomson, CD & Gibson, RS (2002) Mild iodine deficiency in a sample of New Zealand schoolchildren. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 1169–1175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Terwolbeck, K, Behne, D, Meinhold, H, Menzel, H & Lombeck, I (1993) Increased plasma T4-levels in children with low selenium state due to reduced type I iodothyronine 5'deiodinase activity?. J Trace Elem Electrolytes Health Dis 7, 53–55.Google ScholarPubMed
Thomson, CD (2004 a) Assessment of requirements for selenium and adequacy of selenium status: a review. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 391–402.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomson, CD (2004 b) Selenium and iodine intakes and status in New Zealand and Australia. Br J Nutr 91, 661–672.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomson, CD, Colls, AJ, Conaglen, JV, Macormack, M, Stiles, M & Mann, J (1997 a) Iodine status of New Zealand residents as assessed by urinary iodide excretion and thyroid hormones. Br J Nutr 78, 901–912.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomson, CD, Colls, AJ, Styles, M & Conaglen, J (1997 b) Urinary iodide excretion in New Zealand residents. In Trace Elements in Man and Animals TEMA–9, pp. 118–119 [Fischer, PWF, L'Abbé, MR, Cockell, KA, Gibson, RS, editors]. Ottawa: NRC Research Press.Google Scholar
Thomson, CD, Packer, MA, Butler, JA, Duffield, AJ, O'Donaghue, KL & Whanger, PD (2001 a) Urinary selenium and iodine during pregnancy and lactation. J Trace Elem Med Biol 14, 210–217.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomson, CD & Robinson, MF (1996) The changing selenium status of New Zealand residents. Eur J Clin Nutr 50, 107–114.Google ScholarPubMed
Thomson, CD, Robinson, MF, Butler, JA & Whanger, PD (1993) Long-term supplementation with selenate and selenomethionine: selenium and glutathione peroxidase ( EC 1.11.1.19) in blood components of New Zealand women. Br J Nutr 69, 577–588.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomson, CD, Robinson, MF, Campbell, DR & Rea, HM (1982) Effect of prolonged supplementation with daily supplements of selenomethionine and sodium selenite on glutathione peroxidase activity in blood of New Zealand residents. Am J Clin Nutr 36, 24–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomson, CD, Woodruffe, S, Colls, AJ, Joseph, J & Doyle, TC (2001 b) Urinary iodine and thyroid status of New Zealand residents. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 387–392.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tiran, B, Tiran, A, Rossipal, E & Lorenz, O (1993) Simple decomposition procedure for determination of selenium in whole blood, serum and urine by hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy. J Trace Elem Electrolytes Health Dis 7, 211–216.Google ScholarPubMed
Watkinson, JH (1979) Semi-automated flurometric determination of nanogram quantities of selenium in biological material. Analyt Chim Acta 105, 319–325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
World Health Organization, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund & International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (1994) Indicators for Assessing Iodine Deficiency Disorders and Their Control Through Salt Iodization. Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
Zagrodzki, P, Szmigiel, H, Ratajczak, R, Szybinski, Z & Zachwieja, Z (2000) The role of selenium in iodine metabolism in children with goiter. Environ Health Perspect 108, 67–71.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zimmerman, M & Kohrle, J (2002) The impact of iron and selenium deficiencies on iodine and thyroid metabolism: biochemistry and relevance to public health. Thyroid 12, 867–878.CrossRefGoogle Scholar