Selenium, Zinc, and Copper Status in Euthyroid Nodular Goiter: A Cross-Sectional Study

Serum trace elements show association with thyroperoxidase autoantibodies in Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) 4 nodules

Thyroid nodule (TN) has been becoming a great concern worldwide due to its high incidence. Although some studies have reported associations between trace elements exposure and the risk of TNs, the linkage was not inconclusive. The present study aimed to identify the association of selected serum trace elements (Ca, Mg, V, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn and Mo) with TNs among general adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2021 in Chengdu, China. 1282 subjects completed the questionnaire and gave at least one human biological material after an overnight fast, venous blood, and urine, including 377 TN participants defined through ultrasound. Various trace elements in serum specimens were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Thyroid functions were tested by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). The associations between trace elements levels and the risk of TNs were examined by restricted cubic splines (RCS) regression and bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models. TNs were more common in females (P < 0.001) and in the elderly (P < 0.001) and that they were also frequently associated with fertility, marital status, annual household income, drinking, anxiety, vitamin supplement, tea consumption, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. After adjusting for confounders by a propensity score matching model, the association between trace elements concentrations and TNs risk was found to be statistically insignificant in the RCS (P for nonlinear > 0.05) and BKMR models. FT3 or T4 (total or free) increased significantly with increasing total trace elements mixture levels. In TI-RADS-4 TN subjects, TPO-Ab level increased significantly with increasing total trace elements mixture levels in the high-dose range. Ca, Zn, Mo at their 75th percentile showed positive individual effects on TPO-Ab, which was examined to be interactive. The detection of trace elements for TNs in general adults may be of no significance, but once individuals classified as TI-RADS-4 TNs are detected with abnormal TPO-Ab, Ca, Zn and Mo level are recommended to measure. The substantive association on it still needs to be continuously explored in the future.

The Role of Nutrition on Thyroid Function

Thyroid function is closely linked to nutrition through the diet-gut-thyroid axis. This narrative review highlights the influence of nutritional components and micronutrients on thyroid development and function, as well as on the gut microbiota. Micronutrients such as iodine, selenium, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, vitamin A, and vitamin B12 influence thyroid hormone synthesis and regulation throughout life. Dietary changes can alter the gut microbiota, leading not just to dysbiosis and micronutrient deficiency but also to changes in thyroid function through immunological regulation, nutrient absorption, and epigenetic changes. Nutritional imbalance can lead to thyroid dysfunction and/or disorders, such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and possibly contribute to autoimmune thyroid diseases and thyroid cancer, yet controversial issues. Understanding these relationships is important to rationalize a balanced diet rich in essential micronutrients for maintaining thyroid health and preventing thyroid-related diseases. The synthetic comprehensive overview of current knowledge shows the importance of micronutrients and gut microbiota for thyroid function and uncovers potential gaps that require further investigation.

Determination of Serum Zinc and Phosphorus Levels in Patients with Hypothyroidism

Various studies reported that serum zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) levels altered in patients with hypothyroidism and vice versa, but results were found inconsistent. It was aimed to find the association between serum Zn and P in patients with hypothyroidism. In this case-control study, a total of 100 subjects (50 newly diagnosed patients of hypothyroidism and 50 controls) were enrolled aged between 25 and 60 years. Biochemical parameters such as thyroid profile, serum Zn, and P were estimated in each subject. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean level of body mass index (BMI), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and serum P was found significantly elevated in cases compared to controls (p < 0.001). However, the mean level of total triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and serum Zn was found significantly reduced in cases compared to controls (p < 0.001). The serum Zn has shown a significant negative correlation with T3 and BMI among cases (r =  - 0.313 p < 0.05, r =  - 0.338 p < 0.05, respectively). However, serum P has shown a significant positive correlation with TSH and BMI among cases (r = 0.310 p < 0.05, r = 0.449 p < 0.01, respectively). Regression analysis indicated that serum Zn significantly predicted hypothyroidism (p < 0.00). Similarly, serum P significantly predicted hypothyroidism (p < 0.007). Results showed that serum Zn levels were significantly reduced and serum P levels were significantly elevated in cases compared to controls. The serum Zn and serum P both significantly associated with hypothyroidism.

Multi-element analysis of metals in human pathological and unchanged thyroid glands - pilot study

Disturbances in the homeostasis of the elemental composition of thyroid tissue may have serious metabolic and health consequences. It is believed that the accumulation of some metals or the deficiency of others may even cause lethal tumours. Due to the fact that metallomics most often uses human serum to analyse macro and microelements as well as trace elements, it was decided to use material that is more difficult to obtain, but also adds credibility to the research - thyroid tissue samples biopsy. The experiments were conducted on 17 patients diagnosed with: nodular (10) and colloidal goitre (2), chronic thyroiditis (2), follicular adenoma (2) and papillary carcinoma (1). They were recruited by collecting a tumour fragment, control fragment and serum from each of them. The content of Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn was examined using ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometers). Simultaneously, biochemical methods were used to determine the markers of inflammation, glycation and peroxidation: malondialdehyde, pentosidine, reactive free amine content, compounds with thiol groups and galectin 3 in the sera of the examined patients. Three statistically significant correlations were identified: Ca-Mg and Cu-Zn in control tissues (p < 0.05) and Cr-Mn in pathological tissues (p < 0.05). A comparison of individual groups of patients shows that there are some potentail tendencies to increase or decrease in the concentration of certain elements or markers of inflammation and glycation, therefore we discuss potential relationships between a given parameter and a thyroid disorder. The pilot study is an introduction to a deeper analysis aimed at tracing the pathomechanism of the development of thyroid diseases, so that the risk of developing these diseases can be effectively minimized.

Serum Selenium Level in Thyroid Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Background

Despite the implementation of national iodine supplementation programs, structural thyroid diseases are still highly prevalent in most countries. Thus, the link between trace elements other than iodine, such as selenium, and thyroid diseases should be investigated.

Methods

In this case-control study, adult patients with newly diagnosed papillary thyroid carcinoma, benign thyroid nodules, and healthy euthyroid controls without nodules were recruited. Thyroid function tests and serum selenium levels were assessed and compared between groups. The One-way ANOVA test was used to assess the mean difference of numerical variables among the three studied groups (PTC, Benign nodule, and healthy control group). In addition, a post-hoc comparison was conducted based on Bonferroni correction for a pairwise comparison of these three groups.

Results

Data from 182 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), 185 patients with benign thyroid nodules, and 180 healthy individuals as a control group were analyzed. The mean serum selenium levels in the PTC, benign thyroid nodules, and control group were 94.9, 121.6, and 134.3 µg/l, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between the cancer stage and selenium level in the PTC group. Patients in higher stages of cancer had a lower mean of selenium (P < 0.001). In univariate logistic regression, TSH and selenium were significant variables for PTC compared with patients with benign thyroid nodules. Each unit increase in selenium reduces the chance of PTC by about 6%.

Conclusion

The low levels of selenium were associated with PTC. Also, serum selenium levels were inversely correlated with the stage of thyroid cancer.

Essential Trace Elements in Scalp Hair of Residents across the Caspian Oil and Gas Region of Kazakhstan

Most of the country’s oil and gas fields are situated in West Kazakhstan, mainly on the Caspian Sea coast, causing significant damage to the local environment and contributing to an imbalance in the trace element composition of the human body. The study is aimed to evaluate the relationship between the concentration of essential trace elements in scalp hair of the western Kazakhstan adult population and the remoteness of their residence from oil and gas fields. The concentration of essential trace elements (Co, Cu, Fe, I, Mn, Se, Zn) in the hair of 850 individuals aged 18−60 years was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In residents of settlements located at a distance of >110 km from oil and gas fields, the concentration of Cu and I in hair was significantly higher than in those closer to 110 km (p < 0.001). The content of Cu and I were associated with the distance to oil and gas fields (0.072 (95% CI: 0.050; 0.094)) and (0.121 (95% CI: 0.058; 0.185)), respectively. We detected a significant imbalance in the distribution of some essential trace elements in residents’ scalp hair from the Caspian region of western Kazakhstan, living near oil and gas fields. The concentrations of Cu and I were significantly interrelated with the distance to oil and gas fields. The level of copper in the hair of both inhabitants of the area most remote from oil and gas facilities and the entire population of western Kazakhstan as a whole remains significantly low. The data obtained provide evidence of the possible impact of pollutants generated by the oil and gas facilities on a shortage of essential trace elements and associated subsequent health risks.

Targeting Thyroid Hormone/Thyroid Hormone Receptor Axis: An Attractive Therapy Strategy in Liver Diseases

Thyroid hormone/thyroid hormone receptor (TH/TR) axis is characterized by TH with the assistance of plasma membrane transporters to combine with TR and mediate biological activities. Growing evidence suggests that TH/TR participates in plenty of hepatic metabolism. Thus, this review focuses on the role of the TH/TR axis in the liver diseases. To be specific, the TH/TR axis may improve metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and liver injury while exacerbating the progression of acute liver failure and alcoholic liver disease. Also, the TH/TR axis has paradoxical roles in hepatocellular carcinoma. The TH/TR axis may be a prospecting target to cure hepatic diseases.

The Association of Thyroid Nodules With Blood Trace Elements Identified in a Cross-Section Study

Background

The association between occurrence of thyroid nodules (TNs) and trace elements detectable in blood are still inconclusive. The present study sought to determine the relationship between selected trace elements and TNs in the iodine-adequate area of Guangdong, China.

Methods

A total of 1,048 participants from four communities were enrolled. A number of medical checkups were conducted to collect relevant data on anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, glucose blood levels and lipid profiles, as well as data on thyroid function, presence of thyroid autoantibodies, and trace elements. Presence of TN was diagnosed by ultrasonography.

Results

Of the 1048 participants (49.5 ± 14.4 years old), 543 participants (51.8%) had TNs. Serum copper, magnesium and zinc levels are associated with the presence of TNs among healthy subjects. Subjects with higher levels of zinc, magnesium and copper had 1.23-fold, 1.04-fold, and 1.007-fold increased risks of the prevalence of TNs (P = 0.013, 0.017, and < 0.001, resp). Compared with the first quartile of copper content in serum, participants in the fourth quartile had the highest prevalence of TNs with an odds ratio of 8.90 (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.41, 14.94) among all participants. Women in the third quartile of magnesium level had a 1.86-fold (95%CI 1.05, 3.31) risk of the prevalence of TNs. Subjects in the highest quartile of zinc level had a 1.82-fold (95%CI 1.06, 3.16) risk of the prevalence of TNs in females.

Conclusion

TNs were found highly prevalent in females in the investigated population from an iodine-adequate area of Guangdong, China. The imbalance of selected trace elements (copper, magnesium and zinc) in the body is related to the presence of TNs among healthy subjects. The observed correlation of copper on TNs warrants further studies.

Selenium and protozoan parasitic infections: selenocompounds and selenoproteins potential

The current drug treatments against protozoan parasitic diseases including Chagas, malaria, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis represent good examples of drug resistance mechanisms and have shown diverse side effects. Therefore, the identification of novel therapeutic strategies and drug compounds against such life-threatening diseases is urgent. According to the successful usage of selenium (Se) compounds-based therapy against some diseases, this therapeutic strategy has been recently further underlined against these parasitic diseases by targeting different parasite´s essential pathways. On the other hand, due to the important functions played by parasite selenoproteins in their biology (such as modulating the host immune response), they can be also considered as a novel therapeutic strategy by designing specific inhibitors against these important proteins. In addition, the immunomodulatory potentiality of these compounds to trigger T helper type 1 (Th1) cells and cytokine-mediated immune response for the substantial induction of proinflammatory cytokines, thus, Se, selenoproteins, and parasite selenoproteins could be further investigated to find possible vaccine antigens. Herein, we collect and present the results of some studies regarding Se-based therapy against protozoan parasitic diseases and highlight relevant information and some viewpoints that might be insightful to advance toward more effective studies in the future.

Selenium: An Element of Life Essential for Thyroid Function

Selenium (Se), a microelement essential for life, is critical for homeostasis of several critical functions, such as those related to immune-endocrine function and signaling transduction pathways. In particular, Se is critical for the function of the thyroid, and it is particularly abundant in this gland. Unfortunately, Se deficiency is a very common condition worldwide. Supplementation is possible, but as Se has a narrow safety level, toxic levels are close to those normally required for a correct need. Thus, whether the obtaining of optimal selenium concentration is desirable, the risk of dangerous concentrations must be equally excluded. This review addressed the contribution by environment and food intake on Se circulating levels (e.g., geographical factors, such as soil concentration and climate, and different quantities in food, such as nuts, cereals, eggs, meat and fish) and effects related to its deficiency or excess, together with the role of selenium and selenoproteins in the thyroid pathophysiology (e.g., Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease).