Abstract
It is difficult to determine the role of Selenium (Se) in the etiology of (nodular-)goiter, because there are considerable variations of Se concentrations in different populations as reflected by dietary habits, bioavailability of Se compounds and racial differences. Moreover, most previous clinical trials, which investigated the influence of Se on thyroid volume, harboured a bias due to the coexistence of severe iodine deficiency in the study populations. Therefore, we investigated the influence of Se on thyroid volume in a mildly iodine deficient area. First, we investigated randomly selected probands for iodine (UI) and creatinine excretion in spot urine samples and determined the prevalence of goiter and thyroid nodules by high resolution ultrasonography. Iodine concentration was measured manually according to the protocol described by Sandell and Kolthoff and Creatinine as described by Jaffe. Thyroid volume determination was performed using a high resolution real-time instrument. Thyroid volumes were calculated according to the spherical ellipsoid formula. After this, we determined urinary Se excretion (USe) in probands with goiter as well as in matched probands without goiter. Urinary selenium excretion was measured according to the method previously described by Vezina et al. Adjustments between the 2 compared groups were made for age, gender, history of thyroid disorders, smoking and urinary iodine excretion. The mean USe and UI rates of all 172 probands were 24µg Se/l or 27µg Se/g creatinine and 96µg I/l or 113µg I/g creatinine indicating borderline selenium (20–200µg/l) and iodine (100–200µg/l) sufficiency of the study population. Probands with goiter (n=89) showed significantly higher USe levels than probands with normal thyroid volume (n=83; p<0.05). USe rates were not influenced by current smoking or pregnancy. In our investigation, USe was not an independent risk factor for development of goiter. Se does not significantly influence thyroid volume in borderline iodine sufficiency because the iodine status is the more important determinant.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
