Selenium supplementation in the management of thyroid autoimmunity during pregnancy: results of the “SERENA study”, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
G. Mantovani Endocrine December 2019, Volume 66, Issue 3, pp 542–550
Purpose
Selenium is frequently in nutraceuticals for pregnancy, given its role on fertility and thyroid metabolism. However, most evidence rise from non-controlled studies. We aimed to evaluate the protective effect of selenium against thyroid autoimmunity during and after pregnancy.
Methods
A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed and promoted by the Young Italian Endocrinologists Group (EnGioI)—Italian Society of Endocrinology. Forty-five women with thyroiditis in pregnancy were enrolled and randomly assigned to L-selenomethionine (L-Se-Met) 83 mcg/day or placebo (PLB) and evaluated at 10 ± 2 (T1), 36 ± 2 weeks of gestation (T2) and 6 months after delivery (postpartum, PP).
Results
We measured a significant reduction of autoantibodies after pregnancy in L-Se-Met group [at PP: TgAb 19.86 (11.59–52.60), p < 0.01; TPOAb 255.00 (79.00–292.00), p < 0.01], and an antibodies titer’s rebound in PLB group (TgAb 151.03 ± 182.9, p < 0.01; TPOAb 441.28 ± 512.18, p < 0.01). A significant increase in selenemia was measured in L-Se-Met group at T2 (91.33 ± 25.49; p < 0.01) and PP (93.55 ± 23.53; p = 0.02). Two miscarriage occurred in PLB. No differences were found in thyroid volume, echogenicity, quality of life, maternal/fetal complications.
Conclusions
SERENA study demonstrated a beneficial effect of L-Se-Met supplementation on autoantibody titer during pregnancy and on postpartum thyroiditis recurrence.