Clinical efficacy of selenium supplementation in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

To assess the clinical benefits of Selenium (Se) supplementation in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT).

METHODS

Eight databases were searched for randomized controlled trials. The outcomes of interest were thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4). The study protocol is registered on INPLASY, DOI number is 10.37766/inplasy2022.10.0085.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies with a total of 1610 subjects were included. Serum TPOAb was significantly reduced after Se supplementation after 3 months (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.74 to -0.18, P = .001) and 6 months (SMD = -0.80, 95%CI: -1.38 to -0.21, P = .008). The serum TgAb levels decreased at 3 months (SMD = -0.46, 95%CI: -0.79 to -0.12, P = .007) but not at 6 months. Significant effects on declining the TSH titers were found after 6 months (SMD = -0.18, 95%CI = -0.35 to -0.01; P = .03).

CONCLUSION

Se supplementation help reduce TPOAb and TSH levels in HT patients, leading to improvements in well-being or mood. Selenomethionine is more effective than NaSe and Se-yeast in the teatment of Hashimoto thyroid.