Selenium

[maryfran33]

Do many of you supplement with selenium? If so, how much is typical? If you are thyroidless, would you supplement with a higher dose?

Thanks!

[Clutter]

Maryfran33,

100-200mcg is a typical daily dose. As selenium is a thyroid support I've not bothered supplementing as I don't have a thyroid.

[maryfran33 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks, Clutter, for your quick response!

I am thyroidless as well and have been for almost eight years. I had thought that selenium helps convert T4 to T3, but I guess that would only apply to people with a thyroid??

[greygoose in reply to maryfran33]

Not at all. People without thyroids can have conversion problems as well as people with thyroids. So, it you have a conversion problem, try taking selenium and see if it helps.

[Clutter in reply to maryfran33]

Maryfran33,

I'd never thought about it but have just Googled and apparently selenium may improve peripheral conversion.

google.co.uk/search?q=does+...

[maryfran33 in reply to Clutter]

Maybe more "thyroidless" people will step forward. Am really wondering whether it would be helpful, as I suspect that I am a poor converter.

[Clutter in reply to maryfran33]

Maryfran33,

Low TSH, high in range FT4 and low in range or below range FT3 indicate poor conversion. If that's you why not supplement selenium for 3-4 months and have a repeat TSH, FT4 & FT3 to see whether conversion has improved?

[maryfran33 in reply to Clutter]

My TSH is 0.016 (range 0.450 - 4.500).

My FT4 is 1.25 (range 0.82 - 1.77).

My FT3 is 2.8 (range 2.0 - 4.4).

I still experience hypothyroid symptoms (mainly poor appetite, burning tongue, coldness, sluggishness).

[Clutter in reply to maryfran33]

Maryfran33,

FT4 is not even half way through range, nor is FT3, so I don't think it's possible to determine from that whether or not you are a good or poor converter.

Ideally both FT4 and FT3 will be higher in range but because your TSH is low, although not quite suppressed, you might have difficulty persuading your GP or endo to increase Levothyroxine dose.

It won't harm you to take 100-200mcg selenium daily to see whether it will improve conversion.

Good levels of ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate aid conversion so you might want to ask your GP to check them and supplement if they are low.

Poor appetite and burning tongue are not typical hypothyroid symptoms. See here for burning mouth syndrome google.co.uk/search?q=burni...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You could do with dose increase of 25mcg and also test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. All are very often too low and slow Thyroid conversion and uptake

Burning mouth/tongue can be low B12.

Essential to get these vitamins to good levels

earthclinic.com/vitamin-b-1...

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email [e-mail]. print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

Prof Toft - article just published now saying either very high FT4 or better option is addition of T3, likely essential for many

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...