Inositol and Selenium Improve Hashimoto’s Disease

One of the main priorities in my practice is to stay on top of the latest cutting-edge research in Hashimoto’s disease and thyroid disorders. My latest round of research reviews involved six clinical studies that examined inositol and selenium and how they conferred major benefits in those with Hashimoto’s disease and subclinical hypothyroidism. The highlights of each study are summarized in a table at the end of this article for ease of reference. What are Inositol and Selenium? Before we get started, let’s do a quick review on the supplements inositol and selenium. Inositol is referred to as Vitamin B8 but is not actually a vitamin but a sugar. It naturally occurs in foods such as fruits (especially citrus), beans, grains and nuts. It helps provide structure to your cells and also affects the hormone insulin and how chemical messengers work in your brain. Some of you may wonder if myo-inositol and inositol are the same thing and the answer is yes. So if you buy a product that is just called “inositol”, this is the myo-inositol form. D-chiro-inositol is another form that works equally as well as myo-inositol, but the d-chiro-inositol has a slight edge in reducing excessive androgen levels in PCOS whereas the myo form is better with insulin resistance. I have mainly used inositol over the years with excellent results for the following: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) Insomnia Anxiety Insulin resistance PMS Depression Fibrocystic breast disease Uterine fibroids Selenium is a trace element that is essential to well-being. It plays a role in the immune response, cell growth and viral defense as discussed in previous research including the studies of Huang et al. and Brownand and Arthur. Selenium also plays a huge part in the synthesis and function of thyroid hormones. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown in previous investigations including those headed by Gartner et al., Landucci et al. and van Zuuren et al. to reduce an inflammatory condition in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.