The role of selenium in the pathogenesis of thyroid disease

Abstract

The past few years have been actively discussing the role of individual macro- and micronutrients as factors regulating the functional activity of organs and systems and reducing the risk of developing a number of diseases, including thyroid diseases. Selenium is one of the most important and intensively studied at present microelements. According to several studies, its low plasma level is associated with an increased risk of developing autoimmune thyroid diseases. In animal experiments, it was shown that a combined deficiency of selenium and iodine leads to more pronounced hypothyroidism than iodine deficiency alone. Some authors believe that cretinism in the newborn is a consequence of the combined deficiency of these two elements in the mother. It is also important that the optimal level of selenium is necessary both to initiate an immune response and to regulate an excessive immune response, as well as chronic inflammation. The review article discusses the relationship between selenium and thyroid pathology, discusses the role of selenium in the physiology of the thyroid gland and in the development of autoimmune diseases. The biochemical aspects of the pathogenesis of thyroid disease are presented.