TPO antibodies linked to selenium deficiency cause thyroid disease, recurrent miscarriages, infertility, depression and more; learn how selenium supplements can help.
Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies are autoantibodies that develop in response to thyroid gland inflammation. TPO antibodies, in turn, cause thyroid inflammation to persist. Studies show that TPO antibodies:
- contribute to the development of postpartum thyroiditis
- contribute to autoimmune thyroid disease
- increase the risk of recurrent miscarriages
- are highly associated with postpartum depression
- are highly associated with fertility problems
Deficiencies of the mineral selenium are associated with the production of TPO antibodies and are a known cause of autoimmune thyroid disease. Several studies also show that selenium supplements effectively lower TPO antibody titers and help resolve autoimmune thyroiditis.
Besides selenium deficiency, other nutrients deficiencies contribute to infertility. In her article on nutritional deficiencies that contribute to infertility and natural killer cell excess, Ellen Grant stresses the importance of having adequate copper, zinc, and magnesium. Note: Natural Killer cells will be described in the next blog.
The Importance of Nutrition
Many years ago, Hippocrates advised his followers of the benefits of pure water and pure food for general health, which is truly immune system health. Hippocrates also taught us that there is a plant available to treat every ill. This isn’t surprising since plants are loaded with specific nutrients, and poor diets are thought to be responsible for most of today’s diseases.
Nutrient deficiencies and nutrient-deficient foods such as sugar and saturated fats are the major causes of inflammation and its subsequent systemic and organ-specific diseases. Even when they don’t directly cause disease, nutrient deficiencies may interfere with any chance of healing and exacerbate symptoms. For example, in thyroid dysfuntion, selenium deficiencies trigger thyroid antibody production. Restoring selenium levels effectively reduces TPO antibody titers and resolvea autoimmune thyroid disorders.
More than Anecdotal Evidence
A recent article published in Science Today and mentioned in the Health Care Advisory Board’s Daily News criticized the increasing practice of publishing medical articles based on anecdotal rather than peer-reviewed double-blind clinical studies. In particular, the article criticized published studies that are written merely to generate funding, that is, studies which are based on an isolated anecdote or two that may or may not be of value but for which there is no scientific proo. The article singled out one study describing the use of the sedative Ambien to reverse the persistent vegetative state, which was based on two isolated anecdotes.
On the contrary, the studies used to research this article including the articles cited here are based on peer-reviewed clinical trials that demonstrated consistent results. In published studies of both infertility and autoimmune disease, it’s important to be on the alert for divergent studies which have contrary results as well as studies based on isolated anecdotes that raise false hopes and merely serve to generate research funding.
The Role of Selenium and other Minerals
While certain minerals are known to be essential for good health, certain mineral deficiencies are well known to cause thyroid and other autoimmune disorders. For example:
- Selenium is deficient in both autoimmune hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
- Magnesium is often deficient in hyperthyroidism and contributes to arrhythmias
- Copper is decreased in autoimmune hyperthyroidism
- Zinc is decreased in autoimmune hypothyroidism
- Calcium can be deficient in both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
- Essential fatty acids and oil-soluble nutrients such as vitamin D are deficient in many different autoimmune conditions, including thyroid disorders.
Several of the studies cited below are based on experiments using various doses and preparations of selenium. The majority of studies showed that a dose of 200 mcg of selenium primarily consisting of selenomethionine was most effective in reducing TPO antibody production. TPO antibody production declined to normal levels with continued supplementation and rose in cases where supplements were discontinued.
Nutrient Deficiencies and Allergies
A number of studies on celiac disease and thyroid disease and also the studies conducted by Grant emphasize that a diet low in food allergens is essential for reducing antibody production and reducing Natural Killer lymphocyte cell production. Grant also mentions the importance of adding essential fatty acids/essential oils, another class of nutrients typically deficient in autoimmune disorders.
In summary, a simple solution for reducing TPO antibody titers involves restoring nutrient levels, particularly selenium, magnesium, calcium, and essential oil levels and avoiding food allergens.
And while these studies were based on reducing levels of thyroid antibodies and gliadin antibodies, and levels of NK cells, these studies suggests that correcting nutrient deficiencies would cause a similar reduction in other autoantibodies that contribute to disease.
Resources:
Selenium May Prevent Hypothyroidism after Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Pregnancy, Reuters Health Information, Specialty News Merck Medicus, May 7, 2007.
Turker O, Kumanligoglu K, Karapolat I, Dogan I, Selenium Treatment in Autoimmune Thyroiditis: 9-month follow-up with variable doses, Journal of Endocrinology, 2006 July: 151-156.
Geoffrey Beckett and John Arthur, Selenium and Endocrine Systems, Review, Journal of Endocrinology 2005; 184, 455-465, accessed online May 14, 2007.
Jullius Goepp, Selenium, Important Health Benefits from an Overlooked Trace Mineral, November 2006, accessed May 1, 2007.
Ellen Grant, Natural killer cells, miscarriage, and infertility and nutritional deficiencies, British Medical Journal Nov 28, 2004, full text article accessed May 14, 2007.
