title: A 2016 Italian Survey about the Clinical Use of Selenium in Thyroid Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selenium (Se) is a trace element that plays key roles in thyroid physiology. Se deficiency is associated with increased risk of thyroid disease. Some evidence suggests that Se supplementation may be beneficial in autoimmune thyroid disease (either hypo- or hyperthyroidism).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to examine the use of Se in daily clinical practice among Italian endocrinologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of the Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (AME) were invited to participate in a web-based survey investigating the use of Se in different clinical conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 815 individuals (43.2% of AME members) participated in the survey, 778 of whom completed all of the sections. Among these respondents, 85.2% considered using Se for thyroid disease (58.1% rarely/occasionally and 27.1% often/always), and 79.4% prescribed Se for chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) (39.1% sometimes and 40.3% often/always). About two thirds of the respondents considered Se use in cases of subclinical autoimmune hypothyroidism, and about 40% had suggested Se use for patients with AIT who were planning pregnancy or already pregnant. About one fourth of the respondents had used Se for mild Graves' orbitopathy. Regarding the suggested daily dosage of Se, 60% of the respondents answered 100-200 µg, 20-30% recommended <100 µg, and 10-20% recommended >200 µg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Se use is widely considered in daily clinical practice. Moreover, Se supplementation is often used or suggested for purposes extending beyond those supported by evidence-based medicine. Ongoing studies will better clarify how Se treatment can be properly utilized in thyroid disease management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, 'V. Fazzi' Hospital, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Service, Galeazzi Institute IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Attanasio
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria 'S. Maria della Misericordia', Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcocci
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano Laziale, Italy.
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guglielmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano Laziale, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papini
keywords: Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis; Graves’ disease; Hashimoto's thyroiditis; Hypothyroidism; Orbitopathy; Pregnancy; Selenium; Survey; Thyroid