Selenium and autoimmune thyroid disease

Abstract

As one of the essential trace elements,selenium takes part in the synthesis,activation and metabolism of thyroid hormones so as influencing thyroid function.In autoimmune thyroid disease,the level of selenium is lower than normal.The low serum selenium level may have impact on the multiple selenoproteinase on the surface of follicular epithelial cell or on the immune system of the body resulting in the occurrence and progression of thyroid disease.Selenium supplementation should be one of the potential and new measures for the prevention and therapy of autoimmune thyroid disease. Key words: Selenium; Autoimmune; Thyroid disease