Challenges and perspectives of selenium supplementation in Graves’ disease and orbitopathy

PURPOSE: This review focuses on the results of prospective randomized clinical trials and the conclusions from respective meta-analyses in order to summarize experiences with adjuvant selenium (Se) supplementation in Graves’ hyperthyroidism and orbitopathy, while identifying ambiguous findings and highlighting important open research issues. METHODS: We searched the PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) through May 31, 2019, for relevant studies. RESULTS: The available evidence concerning routine use of Se in the treatment of Graves’ hyperthyroidism remains ambiguous. Results of meta-analyses, including ten RCTs, suggest that adjuvant Se supplementation can enhance the restoration of biochemical euthyroidism. Unfortunately, these results must be judged cautiously owing to several important limitations. Moreover, an in-depth analysis of relevant long-term clinical measures of therapeutic success (such as remission rate after antithyroid drug treatment), besides surrogate markers (for example, hormone or autoantibody concentrations), is generally missing. Based on a single study, Se supplementation is recommended in patients with mild orbitopathy of short duration because it may decrease inflammation and eye-specific symptoms while also achieving a marked improvement in disease-specific quality of life. The effects of Se supplementation on moderate-to-severe orbitopathy remain as yet unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Additional randomized clinical trials with clinically relevant endpoints are urgently needed to further aid in clinical decision-making, including better stratification of Graves’ disease patients, who are most likely to benefit from Se supplementation.