title: Effects of selenium supplementation in the early stage of autoimmune thyroiditis in childhood: an open-label pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of selenium (Se) in childhood autoimmune thyroiditis regarding its effect on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), and thyroid morphology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newly diagnosed 23 euthyroid children (mean age, 12.3 +/- 2.4 years) with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) received only 50 microg L-selenomethionine per day for 3 months. The baseline basal urinary iodine level, serum Se, TSH, fT4, TPOAb, and TgAb concentrations, and thyroid morphology by ultrasound were detected. We reanalyzed the TPOAb and TgAb changes at the 3rd month and then compared the thyroid morphology with 30 healthy individuals (mean age, 12.1 +/- 2.1 years) at the 6th month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum TPOAb, TgAb, and thyroid echogenicity were unchanged with Se supplementation. A prominent decrease in thyroid volume was noteworthy; 35% of patients showed a thyroid volume regression rate of > or = 30%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In terms of TPOAb and TgAb, Se may not benefit in the euthyroid period of HT, but Se supplementation seems to lead a favorable response in thyroid volume regression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Bakirköy Maternity and Children Education Hospital, Ministry of Health, Istanbul, MD, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onal
authors.forename: Gonca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keskindemirci
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adal
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ersen
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D012643:Selenium