ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT01465867SerenaUpdated Jan 30, 2018

Selenium Supplementation in Pregnancy

An interventional study of Selenium and Sugar Pill Placebo in Pregnancy, Infertility and Auto-immune Thyroiditis, sponsored by University of Roma La Sapienza. Completed at 11 sites in Italy. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 38 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-01-30.

Sponsored by University of Roma La Sapienza · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
56
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 38 Years
Sex
Female
01

Where this study stands

Counted across the records on this site · 2026-11-12

Among 76 studies in Infertility with a site in Italy — 6 open to participants now, 9 under way, none of them phase 3. Infertility · Italy.

Enrollment
43rd of 53
56 · median 144
Started
2012
with 10 others
No phase
16 of 76
1 open now
Registered
24th of 76
by date

Among the 76 studies in Infertility with a site in Italy, this one is the 43rd largest by enrollment of the 53 interventional ones, is one of 11 that started in 2012, is one of 16 with no phase, and was the 24th registered.

By phase

76 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.

Phase 429 · 0 open
Observational22 · 5 open
No phasethis study16 · 1 open
Phase 37 · 0 open
Phase 21 · 0 open
Phase 2/31 · 0 open

By the year they started

First in 1997; this study’s year is marked. 11 started in 2012.

Size and results

Median enrollment 144 across the 53 interventional studies, 336 across the 22 observational. Of the 48 that completed or were terminated, 8 (17%) have results posted.

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02

Study summary

Serum levels of isolated anti-thyroperoxidase (TPOab) and anti-thyreoglobulin (Tgab) autoantibodies are strongly associated with an increased risk of miscarriage and premature deliveries in euthyroid pregnant women. Replacement of thyroxine (LT4) or other supplementations in euthyroid-Ab positivity during pregnancy has not been established. The development of a safe and effective intervention that modulates inappropriate inflammatory responses could be a very important component of prevention against adverse health outcomes during pregnancy.

The anti-oxidant Selenium (Se) suppresses autoimmune destruction of thyrocytes and at daily dose of 200 mcg and 100 mcg decreases titers of serum TPOAb and TgAb also in Se-non-deficient patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT).

The use of Se in AIT has been shown to reduce the incidence of postpartum thyroiditis and hypothyroidism.

Women with recurrent pregnancy loss had lower Se levels and Se deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AIT and in the impairment of T/B cell-mediated immunity.

The purpose of the present study is performed to establish the effect of Se supplementation in euthyroid women with AIT (pregnant and in whom embryo transfer is expected within 60 days) on Ab trend, thyroid function and structure, implantation rates, pregnancy rates, pregnancy outcome and number of obstetrical, fetal and neonatal complications.

Read the detailed description

Adverse outcomes, postpartum thyroid dysfunction and permanent hypothyroidism have been associated with isolated TPOab positivity in euthyroid pregnant women.

In areas with severe selenium deficiency there is a higher incidence of thyroiditis due to a decreased activity of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity within thyroid cells. Selenium-dependent enzymes also have several modifying effects on the immune system. Therefore, even mild selenium deficiency may contribute to the development and maintenance of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Selenium substitution exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. Se could represents an important supplementation in euthyroid women with AIT in order to improve thyroid function and structure and to prevent obstetrical adverse events related to autoimmune diseases and reactive oxygen species, such as recurrent miscarriage and pre-eclampsia.

The aim of this study is to document the effects of Selenium Supplementation with and without L-thyroxine (LT4) in euthyroid women with AIT, during pregnancy.

This protocol will evaluate the trend of TPOab and Tgab, selenium concentration, thyroid volume and echogenicity, nodule formation and number of adverse effects that affect the mother (during and after pregnancy), the fetus, the infant and the heath service, needing to elucidate the nature of the emerging associations.

The study also aims to assess the impact of Selenium Supplementation on implantation rate and pregnancy rate in women with transfer planned within the next 60 days.

This is designed as a phase IV study on treatment with a cohort size of pregnant women and women in whom embryo transfer is expected within 60 days with TSH value into the normal range (0.4-2.5 mUI/mL) and Tgab and/or TPOab positivity. We have performed two randomizations arms: Randomization arm A will include women LT4 replacement-free that will take Selenium or Placebo and Randomization arm B will include women already under LT4 replacement that will take Selenium or Placebo. Patients included in Randomization A will move into Randomization B, if TSH increases above 2.5 mUI/mL during pregnancy.

Pregnant women with TSH > 2.5 mU/mL at time 0 will begin (or will adjust) LT4 replacement and will be included in Randomization arm B.

Accounting for a 30% drop off, a total enrolment of 150 patients is planned. Patients will be randomized at time 0 (10°± 2 weeks of gestation). Follow-up visits will take place at weeks 14 ± 2, 24 ± 2, 32 ± 2, 36 ± 2 weeks, and between months 3° and 6° after labour. An optional visit could be done 12 months after labor. Plasma and serum monitoring of thyroid hormones, Tgab, TPOab, Se concentration, Selenoproteins and cytokines, thyroid US, SF12 questionnaire will be made at all the follow-up visits. At visit 3 (24 ± 2 weeks) patients will optionally do the OGTT). Gestational, obstetrical, maternal, fetal, and infant anamnestic data will be taken, during the follow up visits and at labour.

The long-term objective is to identify a safe and easily administered supplementation that improves:

  1. implantation and pregnancy rates in infertile women Tgab and/or TPOab positives
  2. maternal and fetal complication in pregnant euthyroid women Tgab and/or TPOab positives.
03

Conditions studied

  • Pregnancy
  • Infertility
  • Auto-immune Thyroiditis

Keywords

  • Selenium
  • Pregnancy
  • Auto-immune thyroiditis
  • Post-partum thyroiditis
  • Miscarriage
  • Pre-eclampsia
  • Implantation and Pregnancy rate
  • Infertility
04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 38 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • pregnant women with 10°± 2 weeks of gestation
  • women in whom embryo transfer is expected within 60 days
  • euthyroid women (0.4 μIU/ml \< TSH \< 2.5 μIU/ml), positive for TPOab and/or TgAb, not assuming LT4 replacement
  • euthyroid women (0.4 μIU/ml \< TSH \< 2.5 μIU/ml), positive for TPOab and/or TgAb under LT4 replacement (to maintain TSH within the control range).
  • women with TSH > 2.5 μIU/ml positive for TPOab and/or TgAb, not assuming LT4 replacement (requiring the beginning of LT4 replacement)
  • women with TSH > 2.5 μIU/ml positive for TPOab and/or TgAb, under LT4 replacement (requiring an adjustment of LT4 replacement)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • use of dietary supplements containing selenium in the previous 4 months;
  • use of antidepressive/psychotic drugs, amiodarone, propanolol, lithium, cytokines;
  • history of hyperthyroidism positive anti-thyrotropin ab;
  • previous partial or total thyroidectomy;
  • known fetal anomaly;
  • known infections (PID, , ) and mola hydatidoses;
  • chronic renal failure;
  • uncontrolled hypertension;
  • uterine malformation;
  • history of medical and metabolic complication such as heart disease or diabetes;
  • previous embryo transfer failed within last 3 months;
  • miscarriage within last 3 months;
  • gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Hepatitis C tests

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.

After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
56 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Selenium

    Dietary Supplement: Selenium

  • Placebo comparator
    Sugar Pill Placebo

    Other: Sugar Pill Placebo

  • Experimental
    Selenium + L-Thyroxine (LT4)

    Other: Selenium + L-Thyroxine (LT4)

  • Experimental
    Sugar Pill Placebo + L-Thyroxine (LT4)

    Other: Sugar Pill Placebo + L-Thyroxine (LT4)

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementSelenium

    83 micrograms of selenium (in the form of selenium methionine) in tablet form taken orally daily for all the length of pregnancy and for 3-6th month after labour

    Also known as: Intervention I (Se)

  • OtherSugar Pill Placebo

    Placebo supplements in the same capsule as selenium. 1 tablet daily for all the length of pregnancy and for 3-6th month after labour.

    Also known as: Intervention II (Plb)

  • OtherSelenium + L-Thyroxine (LT4)

    83 micrograms of selenium (in the form of selenium methionine) in tablet form taken orally daily for all the length of pregnancy and for 3-6th month after labour + LT4 taken orally daily according to the dose required(in women already receiving it or needing of start it)

    Also known as: Intervention III (Se+LT4)

  • OtherSugar Pill Placebo + L-Thyroxine (LT4)

    Placebo supplements in the same capsule as selenium. 1 tablet daily for all the length of pregnancy and for 3-6th month after labour + LT4 taken orally daily according to the dose required(in women already receiving it or needing of start it)

    Also known as: Intervention IV (Plb + LT4)

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Changes in TPOab and/or Tgab

    TPOab and Tgab titers will be measured using a ECLIA kit. Plasma selenium concentration will also be measured

    Time frame: 0 and 14 ± 2, 24 ± 2, 32± 2, 36± 2 weeks; and between 3° and 6° month after labour; and optionally 12° after labour

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes in thyroid volume and echogenicity

    Also changes in thyroid nodules diameters and/or nodules formation will be measured by Ultrasonographic (US) imaging

    Time frame: 0 and 14 ± 2, 24 ± 2, 32± 2, 36± 2 weeks; and between 3° and 6° month after labour; and optionally 12° after labour

  2. Changes in thyroid hormones (TSH, FT4, FT3)

    Time frame: 0 and 14 ± 2, 24 ± 2, 32± 2, 36± 2 weeks; and between 3° and 6° month after labour; and optionally 12° after labour

  3. Evaluation of Maternal risks

    Pre-eclampsia (gestational hypertension: systolic pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg \[Korotkoff V\] on ≥ 2 occasions after 20 weeks gestation), Miscarriage, Placental Abruption, Abruption, Gestational hypertension, Breech presentation at birth, Preterm birth (\< 37 weeks gestation), Symptomatic hypothyroidism, Preterm labour, Postpartum haemorrhage, Postpartum depression, Postpartum Thyroiditis, Maternal death

    Time frame: From the date of randomization until the date of first documented event

  4. Evaluation of Infant risks

    Small for gestational age, Admission to special care, Cretinism, Jaundice requiring phototherapy, Poor feeding, Constipation, Hoarse cry, Lethargy, Hypotonia, Macroglossia, Umbilical hernia

    Time frame: From the date of labour until the date of the first documented event

  5. Changes in of quality of life

    Quality of life will be measured by questionnaire SF12

    Time frame: 0 and 14 ± 2, 24 ± 2, 32± 2, 36± 2 weeks; and between 3° and 6° month after labour; and optionally 12° after labour

  6. Evaluation of Health Services:

    Maternal length of hospital stay (days), Neonatal length of hospital stay (in days), Cost of services

    Time frame: from the date of admission until the date of discharge

  7. Changes in the selenium-dependent antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase

    Glucose, Vitamin B-12, folate, methionine, albumin and cytokines will be also measured in serum

    Time frame: 0, 24 ± 2, 36± 2 weeks; and 6 months after labour

  8. Changes in implantation and pregnancy rates

    Clinical implantation rate (IR) and pregnancy rate (PR)

    Time frame: From the date of embryo transfer until the date of documented progression

07

Study locations

11 sites
  • Azienda ospedaliero-universitaria Careggi
    Florence, 50134, Italy
  • Istituto Auxologico Italiano
    Milan, 20095, Italy
  • Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
    Milan, 20122, Italy
  • University Federico II
    Naples, 80131, Italy
  • University "Piemonte Orientale, A. Avogadro"
    Novara, 28100, Italy
  • Torvergata University of Rome - Ospedale S. Eugenio
    Rome, 00145, Italy
  • European Hospital
    Rome, 00148, Italy
  • Ospedale S. Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli
    Rome, 00153, Italy
  • Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome
    Rome, 00161, Italy
  • Department of Gynecological/Obstetric/Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome
    Rome, 00161, Italy
  • Dpt of Experimental Medicine
    Rome, 00161, Italy
08

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
Not marked actual or estimatedDates not marked actual or estimated

The record gives a start of Apr 2012, a primary completion of Jun 2017 and a completion of Jan 2018. It does not say whether these dates are actual or estimated.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Nov 2, 2011
First posted
Nov 6, 2011
Start
Apr 2012
Primary completionActual
Jun 2017
CompletionActual
Jan 2018
Last update
Jan 30, 2018
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 30, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01465867
Responsible party
Andrea M. Isidori (Principal Investigator, Clinical Professor, University of Roma La Sapienza) — Principal investigator
First posted
Nov 6, 2011
Start date
Apr 2012
Primary completion
Jun 2017
Completion
Jan 2018
Last update
Jan 30, 2018

Study contacts

Andrea M Isidori, MD, PhD
principal investigator · Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Clinical Pathophysiology and Endocrinology, "Sapienza" University of Rome

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jan 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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