REVIEW PAPER
Correlation between selenium levels and thyroid cancer – a literature review
More details
Hide details
1
6th year of medical studies, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
2
Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, University Clinical Hospital No. 2 PUM, Szczecin, Poland
3
Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, 4th Military Clinical Hopsital, Wrocław, Poland
4
Clinical Department of Endocrinology, Metabolic and Internal Medicine, University Clinical Hospital, Poznań, Poland
5
Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, 4th Military Clinical Hospital, Wrocław, Poland
6
Department of Internal Medicine, 109th Military Hospital with Outpatient Clinic, Szczecin, Poland
7
Department of Internal Medicine, Multi-specialist Regional Hospital, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland
Corresponding author
Kamila Durmała
6th year of medical studies, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
Selenium is one of the micronutrients in the human body that has antioxidant,
immunomodulatory, anticancer properties and affects thyroid hormone conversion. Selenium accumulates to the greatest extent in thyroid tissue. There is evidence that selenium supplementation may have an effect on reducing the risk of thyroid cancer. The aim of this review is to evaluate the existence of an association between selenium concentrations and thyroid cancer, based on the current literature.
Review methods:
Information was sought using PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane databases, academic textbooks, and
data from various organizations, e.g. FDA, EFSA, ESMO. A total of 5 publications were included in the review.
Brief description of the state of knowledge:
Selenium deficiency interferes with the conversion of thyroid hormones to their active form, which can result in hormone deficiency and excessive TSH secretion. In turn, high levels of TSH are considered a risk factor in the development of thyroid cancer. One study found an association between low serum selenium levels and the occurrence of thyroid cancer. Another study only confirmed an association between low selenium concentrations and the progression of already existing cancer. In contrast, a third study did not confirm the presence of any correlation
Summary:
The results of the study varied, which may be due to complex mechanisms and the influence of many factors on the relationship studied. It is also possible that beneficial effects on the thyroid correlate with a certain range of selenium concentrations. However, further research is needed to prove this.
REFERENCES (51)
1.
Bray F, Laversanne M, Weiderpass E, et al. The ever-increasing importance of cancer as a leading cause of premature death worldwide. Cancer. 2021;127(16):3029–3030.
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.3....
4.
Hariharan S, Dharmaraj S. Selenium and selenoproteins: it’s role in regulation of inflammation. Inflammopharmacology. 2020;28(3):667–695.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787....
6.
Rataan AO, Geary SM, Zakharia Y, et al. Potential Role of Selenium in the Treatment of Cancer and Viral Infections. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(4):2215.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23....
7.
Haug A, Graham RD, Christophersen OA, et al. How to use the world’s scarce selenium resources efficiently to increase the selenium concentration in food. Microb Ecol Health Dis. 2007;19(4):209–228.
https://doi.org/10.1080/089106....
8.
Gorini F, Sabatino L, Pingitore A, et al. Selenium: An Element of Life Essential for Thyroid Function. Molecules. 2021;26(23):7084.
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecu....
10.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service. Food Data Central. 2019.
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/ (access: 2024.07.07).
11.
EFSA NDA Panel (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies). Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for selenium. EFSA Journal. 2014;12(10):3846, 67 pp.
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa....
12.
Institute of Medicine (US) Panel on Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2000.
https://doi.org/10.17226/9810.
13.
Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Food Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels. Final rule. Fed Regist. 2016;81(103):33741–33999.
15.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Selenium and a Reduced Risk of Site-specific Cancers, FDA-2008-Q-0323. 2009.
https://wayback.archive-it.org... (access: 2024.07.07).
16.
Filetti S, Durante C, Hartl D, et al. Thyroid cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up†. Ann Oncol. 2019;30(12):1856–1883.
https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc....
17.
Prete A, Borges de Souza P, Censi S, et al. Update on Fundamental Mechanisms of Thyroid Cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020;11:102.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.....
18.
Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74(3):229–263.
https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.2....
19.
Minich WB. Selenium Metabolism and Biosynthesis of Selenoproteins in the Human Body. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2022;87(Suppl 1):S168-S102.
https://doi.org/10.1134/S00062....
20.
Hernandez A, Martinez ME, Ng L, et al. Thyroid Hormone Deiodinases: Dynamic Switches in Developmental Transitions. Endocrinology. 2021;162(8):bqab091.
https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr....
21.
Ihnatowicz P, Drywień M, Wątor P, et al. The importance of nutritional factors and dietary management of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020;27(2):184–193.
https://doi.org/10.26444/aaem/....
22.
Hu Y, Feng W, Chen H, et al. Effect of selenium on thyroid autoimmunity and regulatory T cells in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: A prospective randomized-controlled trial. Clin Transl Sci. 2021;14(4):1390–1402.
https://doi.org/10.1111/cts.12....
23.
Gombart AF, Pierre A, Maggini S. A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System-Working in Harmony to Reduce the Risk of Infection. Nutrients. 2020;12(1):236.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu1201....
24.
Razaghi A, Poorebrahim M, Sarhan D, et al. Selenium stimulates the antitumour immunity: Insights to future research. Eur J Cancer. 2021;155:256–267.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca....
26.
Nath D, Kaur L, Sohal HS, et al. Application of Selenium Nanoparticles in Localized Drug Targeting for Cancer Therapy. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2022;22(15):2715–2725.
https://doi.org/10.2174/187152....
27.
Paparodis RD, Bantouna D, Karvounis E, et al. Higher TSH Is Not Associated With Thyroid Cancer Risk in the Presence of Thyroid Autoimmunity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020;105(7).
https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem....
28.
Nieto H, Boelaert K. WOMEN IN CANCER THEMATIC REVIEW: Thyroid-stimulating hormone in thyroid cancer: does it matter?. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2016;23(11):T109-T121.
https://doi.org/10.1530/ERC-16....
29.
Xu B, Gu SY, Zhou NM, et al. Association between thyroid stimulating hormone levels and papillary thyroid cancer risk: A meta-analysis. Open Life Sci. 2023;18(1):20220671.
https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2....
30.
Demircioglu ZG, Demircioglu MK, Aygun N, et al. Relationship Between Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Level and Aggressive Pathological Features of Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Sisli Etfal Hastan Tip Bul. 2022;56(1):126–131.
https://doi.org/10.14744/SEMB.....
31.
Alaraifi AK, Alessa M, Hijazi LO, et al. TSH level as a risk factor of thyroid malignancy for nodules in euthyroid patients. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2023;43(3):183–188.
https://doi.org/10.14639/0392-....
32.
Ge S, Zhao J, Yao J, et al. The association between serum selenium levels and pathological features of papillary thyroid cancer in 284 patients. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1242250.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.....
33.
Maehira F, Luyo GA, Miyagi I, et al. Alterations of serum selenium concentrations in the acute phase of pathological conditions. Clin Chim Acta. 2002;316(1–2):137–146.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0009-....
35.
Glattre E, Thomassen Y, Thoresen SO, et al. Prediagnostic serum selenium in a case-control study of thyroid cancer. Int J Epidemiol. 1989;18(1):45–49.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/18....
36.
Kucharzewski M, Braziewicz J, Majewska U, et al. Copper, zinc, and selenium in whole blood and thyroid tissue of people with various thyroid diseases. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2003;93(1–3):9–18.
https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:9....
37.
Hao R, Yu P, Gui L, et al. Relationship between Serum Levels of Selenium and Thyroid Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutr Cancer. 2023;75(1):14–23.
https://doi.org/10.1080/016355....
38.
Xu X, Hendryx M, Liang X, et al. Dietary selenium intake and thyroid cancer risk in postmenopausal women. Nutrition. 2022;103–104:111840.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.....
39.
Baltaci AK, Dundar TK, Aksoy F, et al. Changes in the Serum Levels of Trace Elements Before and After the Operation in Thyroid Cancer Patients. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2017;175(1):57–64.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011....
40.
Jonklaas J, Danielsen M, Wang H. A pilot study of serum selenium, vitamin D, and thyrotropin concentrations in patients with thyroid cancer. Thyroid. 2013;23(9):1079–1086.
https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.20....
41.
O’Grady TJ, Kitahara CM, DiRienzo AG, et al. The association between selenium and other micronutrients and thyroid cancer incidence in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e110886.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journa....
42.
Yuan S, Zhang Y, Dong PY, et al. A comprehensive review on potential role of selenium, selenoproteins and selenium nanoparticles in male fertility. Heliyon. 2024;10(15):e34975.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heli....
45.
Wu Q, Rayman MP, Lv H, et al. Low Population Selenium Status Is Associated With Increased Prevalence of Thyroid Disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015;100(11):4037–4047.
https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.201....
46.
Marcocci C, Kahaly GJ, Krassas GE, et al. Selenium and the course of mild Graves’ orbitopathy. N Engl J Med. 2011;364(20):1920–1931.
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa....
47.
Uhliarova B, Hajtman A. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – an independent risk factor for papillary carcinoma. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2018;84(6):729–735.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjor....
48.
Soares MN, Borges-Canha M, Neves C, et al. The role of Graves’ disease in the development of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Eur Thyroid J. 2023;12(4):e230055.
https://doi.org/10.1530/ETJ-23....
49.
Shreenath AP, Hashmi MF, Dooley J. Selenium Deficiency. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; October 29, 2023.
50.
Fan AM, Kizer KW. Selenium. Nutritional, toxicologic, and clinical aspects. West J Med. 1990;153(2):160–167.
51.
Casanova P, Monleon D. Role of selenium in type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and insulin secretion. World J Diabetes. 2023;14(3):147–158.
https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v1....