What form of selenium is best for the thyroid?

As a former athlete and endurance athlete I'm familiar with training programs using supplements.

The form and dosage are discussed but it is not discussed which form of selenium is best? I don't use selenium supplementation, but I'm curious which form is best for thyroid activity. I've tried some other forms in the past and had issues taking it. It seemed to best for me if taken before bed so no reason to take at night. Is this the best or is there another better way to supplement?
Replies to This Discussion. Selemium is a mineral that is essential to human health. In fact it is an integral part of protein metabolism, thyroid function, immune function and many more important systems in the body. When it comes to the thyroid, however, there is still a fair amount of confusion.

While the role of Se (sodium) is not questioned in thyroid function and production, the effect of Se on thyroid metabolism is much debated and is not clearly understood. It is suggested that inorganic Se is an inhibitor of thyroid function while organic Se, especially in the form of selenomethionine (Se-Meth), appears to support thyroid hormone production and action. This was confirmed in a recent article published in The Endocrine Society's Journal. (1)

If thyroid function is your concern, it is best to follow your doctor's advice on dose and form of selenium to maintain healthy thyroid gland function. Selenium is found mainly in fish, meat and egg yolks, nuts and seeds, and grains. When you eat animal protein and get it from seafood, you are getting the correct selenium for your body. If you were to take selenium in the form of Se-Meth, you might not absorb all of the selenium found in your food. Some Se-Meth compounds are metabolized in the body and then reabsorbed and metabolized back to Selenate. Since it is being metabolized then being reabsorbed, some will end up getting excreted and can't be absorbed by the body.

The inorganic form of selenium has been shown to increase TSH, which is why Dr. Greger warns those with Hashimotos against drinking a glass of inorganic selenium water. It's also recommended to avoid it when taking T4 replacement therapy.

How much selenium should I take for thyroid eye disease?

The dose of selenium needed for thyroid disease is very different from the amount of selenium required to help a healthy thyroid gland produce thyroid hormones.

It is recommended that you take 1,000 micrograms of selenium a day (400 micrograms as selenium acid). However, this might not be enough for most people with thyroid eye disease and additional amounts should be taken depending on your specific needs. It's better to have higher amounts of selenium than not enough.

Selenium is commonly used for prevention and treatment of certain types of cancer. It has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, especially of the prostate, and to improve the quality of life and longevity in people with various types of cancer. Selenium has a reputation as antioxidant, although it does not act directly as antioxidant, but seems to stimulate cell growth. Selenium has been shown to be very effective when taken before the start of radiation therapy.

In recent years selenium has come into the spotlight as an essential component in reducing toxicity and side effects in cancer patients who are taking other drugs that damage or remove healthy cells from their bodies, such as antineoplastics. Several studies suggest that selenium reduces the toxicity of cytotoxic drugs such as cisplatin. However, whether the benefits of selenium and the protection against the side effects of chemotherapy can be generalized to all forms of cancer treatment is still not clear.

To read the full article on Wikipedia, click here. This page will open the same window as the article. However, if the window doesn't appear, you may need to press "refresh" on your browser. The page will open immediately on your phone or tablet if you allow this in your settings.

If the page does not open on your phone or tablet, then you are either using a different browser, your mobile service is down, or it is not set up for accessing Wikipedia mobile articles. Selenium levels are lower in people with thyroid eye disease than they are in the general population. Taking supplements helps correct the deficiency. There are many reasons why you should consider taking selenium supplements.

Thyroid eye disease, or Graves' disease, is a complication of having hyperthyroidism (or too high thyroid hormone levels in the blood). Most people with thyroid eye disease have a strong family history.