Selenium, zinc, and copper. Role in the development of follicular thyroid adenoma
Khalimova A.S., Kvitkova L.V.
Background: In recent years, nutrition and the role of essential microelements (EM) in the development of neoplastic processes have received increasing attention. While there is compelling evidence on the role of individual EM and complex deficiencies in EM status in the development of nodular goiter, there is insufficient data on the role of EM in the development of thyroid tumors, particularly benign follicular thyroid adenoma (FA). This was the reason for conducting this study.
Objective: Evaluation of hair levels of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) and the relationships between these elements in individuals with FTA.
Materials and methods: An observational, open-label, cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted, including 107 women diagnosed with FTA aged 20–60 years. The control group (n=46) consisted of women aged 20–60 years without severe somatic pathology or thyroid disease. All patients underwent anthropometric assessment (height, weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood tests for thyroid hormones, thyroid ultrasound, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry for hair levels of Se, Zn, and Cu.
Results: Individuals with thyroid FA were significantly more likely to have deficiencies in Se, Zn, and Cu in their hair. Se deficiency was detected in 70.1%, Zn deficiency in 65.4%, and Cu deficiency in 64.5% of women with FTA. Moreover, the levels of these EMs were lower than in the control group. The median Se level in individuals with FTA was 0.13 (0.09; 0.15) μg/g, in the control group – 0.165 (0.15; 0.28) μg/g (p=0.000), Zn – 175 (169; 180) μg/g, in the control group – 184.5 (181; 189) μg/g (p=0.000), Cu – 10.8 (9.8; 11.2) μg/g, in the control group – 11.5 (11; 11.9) μg/g (p=0.000). An imbalance of the microenvironment, expressed as a lower Se/Zn and Se/Cu ratio in the hair of individuals with FTA, was detected, as well as direct correlations between Se and Zn, and Zn and Cu in the hair of individuals with FTA.
Conclusion: The obtained results suggest that an imbalance of the microenvironment may influence the development of FTA.
For citations: Khalimova A.S., Kvitkova L.V. Selenium, zinc, and copper. Role in the development of follicular thyroid adenoma. Pharmateca. 2025;32(8):68-73. (In Russ.). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/pharmateca.2025.8.68-73
Authors’ contribution: L.V. Kvitkova – study concept and design, text editing. A.S. Khalimova – data collection, patient interviews, data processing, statistical analysis, and writing.
Conflicts of interest: The authors confirm that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: The study was conducted with the support of Kemerovo State Medical University. The work was carried out at the Department of Faculty Therapy and Occupational Pathology named after Professor V.V. Syrnev, Kemerovo State Medical University, Kemerovo.
Patient Consent for Publication: All patients provided informed consent for the publication of their data.
Authors’ Data Sharing Statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
Keywords
follicular adenoma
thyroid gland
selenium
zinc
copper
About the Authors
Anzhelika S. Khalimova, Endocrinologist, Kuzbass Regional Clinical Hospital named after S.V. Belyaev, Kemerovo, Russia; anguli@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org//0000-0003-3652-2954 (corresponding author)L.V. Kvitkova, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Department of Faculty Therapy and Occupational Pathology named after Professor V.V. Syrnev, Kemerovo State Medical University, Kemerovo, Russia; kvitkova_lv@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5128-3344
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