The role of selenium in thyroid-hormone metabolism and effects of selenium deficiency on thyroid-hormone and iodine-metabolism

John Arthur, Fergus Nicol, G J BECKETT

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Selenium deficiency impairs thyroid hormone metabolism by inhibiting the synthesis and activity of the iodothyronine deiodinases, which convert thyroxine (T4) to the more metabolically active 3,3'-5 triiodothyronine (T3). Hepatic type I iodothyronine deiodinase, identified in partially purified cell fractions using affinity labeling with [I-125]N-bromoacetyl reverse triiodothyronine, is also labeled with Se-75 by in vivo treatment of rats with (Se-Na2SeO3)-Se-75. Thus, the type I iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase is a selenoenzyme. In rats, concurrent selenium and iodine deficiency produces greater increases in thyroid weight and plasma thyrotrophin than iodine deficiency alone. These results indicate that a concurrent selenium deficiency could be a major determinant of the severity of iodine deficiency.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)321-325
Number of pages6
JournalBiological Trace Element Research
Volume34
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Sept 1992

Keywords

  • selenium deficiency
  • thyroid hormones
  • iodine deficiency
  • effect of dietary selenium
  • iodothyronine deiodinases
  • the role of selenium
  • iodothyronine deiodinase
  • brown adipose-tissue
  • rat-liver
  • 5'-DEIODINASE
  • inhibition
  • protein
  • 5'-deiodinase

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