Thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in one or both eyes. It’s often linked to Graves’ disease or other autoimmune conditions that can affect your thyroid.
Your doctor may recommend a combination of lubricating eye drops, medication, or other treatments for thyroid eye disease. Sometimes, they might encourage you to adjust your diet or take a selenium supplement as part of your treatment plan.
Selenium is a mineral that your body needs in small amounts to support certain processes, including thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism.
You can get selenium from certain foods or from dietary supplements. It’s important to get enough but not too much selenium.
Read on to learn more about selenium and thyroid eye disease.
Your body uses selenium to help repair DNA, get rid of old cells, and carry out certain processes in your endocrine and immune systems. Your endocrine system includes multiple glands that produce hormones, including your thyroid gland.
Your thyroid gland contains more selenium than any other organ. Your body uses selenium to create and process thyroid hormone, which plays important roles in your immune system.
According to a
Some research in the review found that the risk of thyroid disease may be higher in people with lower levels of selenium, even when they don’t meet the criteria for selenium deficiency.
Although more research is needed, a
A
More research is needed to learn whether selenium supplements may have benefits for people with thyroid eye disease, even when they don’t have selenium deficiency.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about the latest research on this topic.
According to the
| Age | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to 6 months | 15 mcg | 15 mcg |
| 7–12 months | 20 mcg | 20 mcg |
| 1–3 years | 20 mcg | 20 mcg |
| 4–8 years | 30 mcg | 30 mcg |
| 9–13 years | 40 mcg | 40 mcg |
| 14+ years | 55 mcg | 55 mcg |
This means that the average adult should consume at least 55 mcg of selenium per day.
People who are pregnant, are lactating, or have certain health conditions may need more than that.
Talk with your doctor to learn how much selenium you should consume each day.
It’s possible to consume too much selenium, which can lead to acute selenium toxicity. This may cause uncomfortable symptoms, organ damage, and death in rare cases.
The
| Age | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to 6 months | 45 mcg | 45 mcg |
| 7–12 months | 60 mcg | 60 mcg |
| 1–3 years | 90 mcg | 90 mcg |
| 4–8 years | 150 mcg | 150 mcg |
| 9–13 years | 280 mcg | 280 mcg |
| 14+ years | 400 mcg | 400 mcg |
This means the average adult should consume no more than 400 mcg of selenium per day.
Consuming more than 400 mcg of selenium per day may harm your health.
Selenium deficiency happens when you don’t consume enough selenium to meet your body’s needs.
Your doctor may order blood tests to evaluate your selenium levels. They may also order other tests to evaluate your selenium levels or check for certain health conditions that may be related to selenium deficiency.
Talk with your doctor to learn whether you should get tested for selenium deficiency.
If your selenium levels are low, your doctor might encourage you to eat more foods that are rich in selenium. Most people can get enough selenium from diet alone.
Brazil nuts are a particularly rich source of selenium. According to the
Other dietary sources of selenium include:
- seafood, such as:
- tuna
- halibut
- sardines
- shrimp
- meat and poultry products, such as:
- organ meats, like beef liver
- beef
- pork
- turkey
- chicken
- eggs
- dairy products, such as:
- cottage cheese
- yogurt
- milk
- whole grain products, such as:
- whole wheat bread
- brown rice
- oatmeal
These foods contain selenium in lower amounts than Brazil nuts.
Some fruits and vegetables also contain small amounts of selenium.
The specific amounts of selenium in foods may vary depending on several factors, such as the soil in which a nut or grain was grown, or the diet that a livestock animal was fed.
Talk with your doctor to learn about changes you can make to your diet to get enough selenium. They may refer you to a registered dietitian who can help you adjust your diet if needed.
Talk with your doctor to learn about the potential benefits and risks of taking selenium supplements.
In many cases, you may be able to meet your selenium needs through dietary changes alone.
But sometimes, your doctor might encourage you to take a stand-alone selenium supplement or a multivitamin that contains selenium along with other vitamins and minerals.
Consuming too much selenium may have negative effects on your health.
Selenium may also interact with certain medications.
Your doctor can help you learn how to safely meet your selenium needs through dietary changes, supplements, or a combination of both. They may recommend a specific brand or formulation of selenium supplements.
Your doctor may also refer you to a registered dietitian to help you meet your nutritional needs.
Selenium is a mineral that your body uses to produce and process thyroid hormone. It also plays important roles in DNA repair and some other body functions.
Although more research is needed, some studies suggest that selenium deficiency may increase your risk of thyroid disease in general and thyroid eye disease specifically.
Some research also suggests that taking selenium supplements may help improve quality of life and slow the progression of thyroid eye disease in some people.
The average adult should consume at least 50 mcg of selenium per day and no more than 400 mcg per day. Some individuals may need more than 50 mcg per day. Consuming too much can harm your health.
Talk with your doctor to learn whether you should get your selenium levels tested. Your doctor can also help you learn whether you should eat more selenium-rich foods or take selenium supplements.