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FAQ and Examine Database update
Overview
What is selenium?
What are selenium’s main benefits?
What are selenium’s main drawbacks?
How does selenium work?
Dosage Information
Formulation
Selenium supplements can be taken orally and come in various forms, including selenomethionine, sodium selenate, sodium selenite, and selenium-enriched yeast. In some studies selenium was given as a selenium-enriched food.
Range of dosages studied
Dosages of selenium used in studies have ranged from 50 μg to 800 μg daily, and durations have spanned up to 7 years. The most common dosage used in studies is 200 μg daily.
Selenium RDA
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of selenium is the daily amount that’s thought to maximize levels of the selenium-dependent antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase.[1]
| AGE | MALE | FEMALE | PREGNANT | LACTATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 months | 15 μg* | 15 μg* | — | — |
| 7–12 months | 20 μg* | 20 μg* | — | — |
| 1–3 years | 20 μg | 20 μg | — | — |
| 4–8 years | 30 μg | 30 μg | — | — |
| 9–13 years | 40 μg | 40 μg | — | — |
| 14–18 years | 55 μg | 55 μg | 60 μg | 70 μg |
| 19–50 years | 55 μg | 55 μg | 60 μg | 70 μg |
| >50 years | 55 μg | 55 μg | — | — |
* Adequate intake (AI)
Reference: Institute of Medicine. Selenium (chapter 7 of Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids. The National Academies Press. 2000. DOI: 10.17226/9810)
Selenium UL
The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for selenium is based on the daily intake levels that are unlikely to cause the side effect of hair and nail brittleness and loss.[1] However, some studies have reported side effects, including hair loss, at doses below the UL of 400 μg.[2]
| AGE | MALE | FEMALE | PREGNANT | LACTATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 months | 45 μg | 45 μg | — | — |
| 7–12 months | 60 μg | 60 μg | — | — |
| 1–3 years | 90 μg | 90 μg | — | — |
| 4–8 years | 150 μg | 150 μg | — | — |
| 9–13 years | 280 μg | 280 μg | — | — |
| 14–18 years | 400 μg | 400 μg | 400 μg | 400 μg |
| 19–50 years | 400 μg | 400 μg | 400 μg | 400 μg |
| >50 years | 400 μg | 400 μg | — | — |
Reference: Institute of Medicine. Selenium (chapter 7 of Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids. The National Academies Press. 2000. DOI: 10.17226/9810)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the causes, signs, and symptoms of selenium deficiency?
What are the main dietary sources of selenium?
Does selenium affect thyroid health?
Does selenium affect cancer risk or treatment?
Does selenium affect cardiovascular health?
Does selenium affect Alzheimer’s disease?
Does selenium affect reproductive health?
Does selenium affect human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?
What are the signs and symptoms of selenium toxicity?
Does selenium increase the risk of diabetes?
What are other names for Selenium?
Update History
FAQ and Examine Database update
Examine Database update
Examine Database update
