brief report May 31, 2025 May 31, 2025

Low urinary selenium concentration is associated with nonthyroidal illness syndrome in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

DOI: 10.20945/2359-4292-2024-0113

ABSTRACT

Objective:

This study aimed to assess urinary selenium concentration (USC) and its correlation with non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) and inflammatory markers in hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19.

Subjects and methods:

A prospective study was conducted to investigate urinary selenium (Se) concentration in adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between June and August 2020. Urine and serum samples were collected before complications occurred, always within the first 48 hours after onset. A total of 121 patients were stratified into three tertiles based on USC: (i) USC < 25 μg/L (), (ii) USC 25-39 μg/L (), and (iii) USC > 39 μg/L (). ICP-MS was employed to measure urinary Se concentration. NTIS was defined by free triiodothyronine below 2.3 pg/L accompanied by low or normal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels.

Results:

NTIS was observed in a low prevalence (5.7%) and was significantly associated with patients having the lowest USC (n = 6, p = 0.008). Thyroiditis was the most prevalent thyroid complication (23.9%); however, there was no significant association with USC (p > 0.05).

Conclusion:

The association between low USC and NTIS was evident in this cohort.