selenium for hashimotos

My naturopath has recommended I take selenium citrate 400 mcg daily.  This is to possibly calm down the immune system and lower the Antithyroid Peroxidase antibodies.  I take a multivitamin which provides 100 mcg selenium and eat well, so I probably get at least 200 mcg selenium in my diet each day.

I know there is a toxicity to selenium, so I am wary of taking it in addition to my vitamin and food.  Also, I did have my selenium levels done, and the result came back great - high normal range.  

I believe in Natural medicine and in most cases it is the way to go..........but it gets confusing when the Naturopaths and your Medical Doctors do not jive on things.............kind of like using two different sets of rules.  

Any suggestions?

[Nikodicreta]

Hey besst,
I take  200mcg Selenium daily.
It is actually an AntiOxidant, Anti-Carcinogen and Immune System Booster.
Along with Glutathione, it will support the  recycling of Antoxidants, as Antioxidants can be damaging after completing their free-radical neutralizing activity. Therefore you can reduce the intake of anti-oxidants, because of this.
Selenium is also an inhibitory agent to the expression of the JNK gene.
Prolonged activation of the JNK gene eventually results in serious disease.

As far as your dilemma goes, I would put my money with the Naturopath.
Medical doctors are good in Emergency and Trauma care and "some"
Surgery. Their extensive training in Pharmacology, the Professional biases
and the strict protocols of the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons,
have created a very dysfunctional Health Care model.
Personally, I have no need to visit my doctor, anytime soon!
My knowledge in Holistic and Alternative Health Care is more than adequate to keep me healthy and drug free, hopefully for a very long time.
(Grandpa died at the age of 95 and had never been to a Doctor in his life!
Maybe I'm following his footsteps)

I guess, it comes down to what people are comfortable with, not what is necessarily best for them.
( The ultimate "Best" approach calls for specialized knowledge/training, being proactive, ability to make wise choices, great research skills etc)
In you case with hashimoto's, it's a bit tricky, but I think you naturopath
can be of much greater value than your medical doctor (specialist).
Take care,
Blessings,
Nikodicreta

[Red_Star]

The upper tolerable intake for selenium is stated to be 400mcg daily.  One study did find up to 800mcg is safe however suggested 400mcg to not only avoid toxicity, but also to avoid creating an imbalance of other nutrients in the diet. Symptoms of selenosis include a garlic odor on the breath, gastrointestinal disorders, hair loss, sloughing of nails, fatigue, irritability, and neurological damage. Extreme cases of selenosis can result in cirrhosis of the liver, pulmonary oedema, and death.

There are a number of human clinical trials published in medical journals that shows selenium lowers thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb).  Selenium works at the genetic level to reduce levels of antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. A Chinese study on laboratory mice, published in the July 2010 Endocrinology Journal, determined that the trace mineral inhibits the genes that produce the attacking antibodies.

Human clinical trials :

Greece - October 2010 - Thyroid Journal. In this study, participants who received selenium supplementation for 3 months demonstrated significantly lower TPOAb titers and reported a greater sense of well being and improved mood than those who did not receive selenium.

Crete - 2007 Thyroid Journal.  This study reported a 21% reduction in TPOAb after 1 year of selenomethionine supplements (200 mcg per day).

Turkey -  2006 Journal of Endocrinology.  This study showed a 30% decrease in anti-thyroid antibodies after 3 months of 200mcg per day of L-selenomethionine supplementation for in women with Hashimotos Thyroiditis. The starting average TPOAb was 803 and after 3 months the average was 572.  

Germany - 2002 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. This study showed 40% reduction in antibody levels after selenium supplementation with 9 of 36 (25%) patients completely normalizing their antibody levels.