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Title: THYROID HORMONE LEVELS IN SUBJECTS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ORAL SELENOMETHIONINE

Author
item Combs, Gerald
item PATTERSON, BLOSSOM - NATIONAL CANCER INST
item BRINDAK, MARY - CORNELL UNIV
item MIDTHUNE, DOUGLASS - NATIONAL CANCER INST
item TAYLOR, PHILIP - NATIONAL CANCER INST
item Patterson, Kristine
item Levander, Orville

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2004
Publication Date: 3/7/2005
Citation: Combs Jr., G.F., Patterson, B., Brindak, M., Midthune, D., Taylor, P., Veillon, C., Patterson, K., Hill, D., Levander, O.A. 2005. Thyroid hormone levels in subjects supplemented with oral selenomethionine [abstract]. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. 19(5):A1016.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Selenium (Se) is a component of the iodothyronine 5'-deiodinases which convert triiodothyronine (T4) to thyroid hormone (T3); Se-deficiency can thus reduce circulating T3 levels. Hawkes et al (J. Nutr. 133:3343, 2003) suggested that 6 Se-adequate American males responded to short-term (120 days) Se-supplementation with decreased serum T3 followed by increased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and a 0.8 kg increase in body weight. We determined the effects of Se supplementation on thyroid hormone status within a study designed to characterize the effects on Se metabolism. We determined serum T3, T4 and TSH in healthy men and women (15 each) at 3-4 mo. intervals over 28 mos. during which each consumed 200 mcg Se as L-Se-methionine per day. Plasma Se increased from 152+/-51 ng/ml to 245+/-24 ng/ml within 12 mos. Serum T3 (overall mean+/-SD: 108.1+/-17.4 ng/dl) and T4 (overall: 6.8+/-1.4 mcg/dl) levels showed no changes. However, TSH decreased from an initial value of 2.2+/-1.0 mIU/ml to 1.6+/-0.7 mIU/ml, which effect was significant for females (P<0.05). That the change in TSH was not accompanied by changes in T3 or T4, suggests that Se-supplementation does not affect thyroid hormone status in healthy Americans.