Selenium is a metalloid trace element and an essential nutritional component, vital for several important biological processes carried out in the human body, such as reproduction, synthesis of thyroid hormones, DNA synthesis, immunity, and defense against inflammation and oxidative stress.
Both the intake of selenium and its levels in the plasma vary among different individuals, and depend upon several factors, such as soil composition and its content in selenium, as well as the type and amount of food. Foods rich in selenium are Brazilian peanuts, meat coming from animal organs, poultry, fish, dairy products, bread, and cereals.
Selenium presents antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory effects, and is an essential element for the synthesis and metabolism of thyroid hormones. These actions are accomplished through selenium proteins, of which selenium is an essential component.
The most important selenium proteins are glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (which, due to its antioxidant activity, protects thyroid cells from the excess of H2O2 produced during thyroid hormone synthesis) and the thyroperoxidases, which liberate iodine for addition onto tyrosine residues on thyroglobulin for the production of thyroxine or triiodothyronine.
The thyroid gland is the organ with the highest selenium content. Recent epidemiological studies have found that low plasma selenium levels are associated with a higher incidence of goiter, thyroid nodules, and immune thyroid diseases, such as Graves’ disease, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Therefore, selenium deficiency is a potent risk factor for morphological as well as functional disorders of the thyroid.
Administration of selenium to patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto), with or without the administration of levothyroxine treatment, appears to modify the typical inflammatory and immunological response of the disease, as shown over time by the decrease in anti-thyroid antibodies. In addition, supplementation of selenium may improve thyroid echo-structure.
Selenium supplementation in euthyroid patients under treatment, who suffer from Graves’ disease and concomitant mild ophthalmopathy, results in improved quality of life, less severe ophthalmopathy, and a deceleration in its development, and is included in the official European guidelines concerning treatment of Graves’ ophthalmopathy.
The effect of selenium is also evident in pregnancy, where, in addition to the decrease in antibodies, there is a delay in disease progression, an improvement in the echographic image of the thyroid, and a decrease in the rate of post-partum thyroid dysfunction and appearance of permanent hypothyroidism.
According to results of studies conducted in Greece, the average daily intake of selenium and its average serum concentration are lower than the desired levels.
Libytec Pharmaceuticals, recognizing the benefits of selenium administration and considering it to be a trace element truly vital to life, releases today 2 unique life supplements, SELIMA and SELITOP, with the following characteristics:
- Organic form of selenium with high intestinal absorption
- Orodispersible tablets. This form provides faster disintegration and higher absorption and offers the possibility of administration without the aid of water or other liquid, even in patients with swallowing problems, thus improving compliance
- One daily dose, regardless of food intake
- Pleasant lemon taste
- Absence of gluten and lactose, so as to avoid any potential case of intolerance
- Ability to adapt to each patient’s needs. SELIMA is suitable for long-term treatment, while SELITOP is to be administered as part of autoimmune thyroid disease treatment plans
