A pilot study on the beneficial effects of additional selenium supplementation to methimazole for treating patients with Graves’ disease

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a combination use of methimazole (MMI) and selenium (Se) in thetreatment of Graves’ disease (GD).Materials and methods: A total of 103 newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism patients were randomized to MMI and MMI + Se combinationgroups. After treatment for 6 months, the levels of triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb),thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb) were observed. An in vitro culture model of thyroid cellswas established and the protein expression and mRNA levels of TRAb, TPOAb, and TGAb were determined by western blot and RTPCR.Results: A significant decrease in the levels of FT3, FT4, TRAb, TPOAb, and TGAb were observed in both groups along with a markedincrease in TSH levels. Furthermore, the in vitro experiments showed that the protein expression and mRNA levels of TRAb, TPOAb,and TGAb decreased significantly. Also, compared to the MMI group, there was a greater improvement of these indices in the MMI +Se group.Conclusion: We suggest that the combined use of MMI and Se could improve the thyroid activity in patients, which may provide aneffective therapy for the treatment of GD in clinical settings.

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