Objective: Here we report our experience of treatment with myo-inositol (Myo-Ins) in association with selenium (Se) in patients affected by subclinical hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis (AT).
Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective evaluation of patients (n=26) with slight subclinical hypothyroidism [thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) between 3.5 and 6.5 mcIU/ml] treated with Myo-Ins 600 mg in association with Se (83 mcg) tablets, twice per day, in the last 4 years, with respect to a control group of patients (n=15) with slight subclinical hypothyroidism not treated in the same period. A complete thyroid assessment was done before the treatment, and after six months, in treated patients and controls.
Results: After the treatment, TSH levels significantly declined with respect to basal values (5.12±0.87, vs. 3.93±1.19, mcIU/ml, respectively; p=0.002), in patients treated with Myo-Ins+Se, and in 46% of cases it reached the normal range. Furthermore, after the treatment, antithyroid autoantibodies levels declined. Moreover, the immune-modulatory effect was first confirmed by the fact that after the treatment chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL)10 levels declined, too. No significant modifications of TSH, thyroglobulin antibodies (AbTg), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (AbTPO), or CXCL10 levels, and of the other studied parameters, were observed in the control patients with subclinical hypothyroidism not treated.
Conclusions: The results of the present study show an improvement of thyroid function in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and in presence of AT, treated with Myo-Ins in association with Se. After the treatment, TSH levels significantly declined with respect to basal values, and in 46% of cases it reached the normal range. We confirmed also that, after the treatment, antithyroid autoantibodies levels declined. Moreover the immune-modulatory effect was first confirmed by the fact that after the treatment CXCL10 levels declined, too. Further studies are needed to extend the observations in large population.