REVIEW PAPER
Correlation between selenium levels and thyroid cancer – a literature review
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
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.
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.
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