Selenium is a mineral required in small amounts to maintain good health.
Selenium is necessary to generate antioxidant proteins that help prevent
cell damage from free radicals, which are thought to contribute to the
development of certain chronic diseases. Selenium also has a role in
regulating thyroid gland function and the immune system.
Along with vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium is one of the more popular
antioxidants.
This mineral activates the
antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase.
Low dietary intake of selenium leads to health problems, a moderate
intake is ideal, and too much selenium in the body can potentially cause
harm including the possibility of increasing toxicity and the risk for
certain types of cancer.
buy Selenium supplement 100 mcg per
pill
Dietary Supplement
Selenium is essential for the functioning of the biologically important enzyme
glutathione peroxidase. Glutathione peroxidase neutralizes hydrogen peroxide
thereby promoting healthy tissues.
Buy Selenium 100 mcg or MultiVit Rx
Supplement Facts | ||
Serving Size: 1 Tablet | ||
Amount Per Serving | % DV | |
Selenium (as L-selenomethionine) | 100 mcg | 143% |
DV = Daily Value. |
Suggested Use: One selenium tablet a few times a week with a meal, or as
recommended by your health care professional.
Supplement Facts:
Selenium - 100 mcg each pill
Other products sold online
Nature's Bounty, Selenium, 200 mcg, 100 Tablets
Benefit of selenium
Most Americans do not have a significant selenium deficiency unless a
person has an unusual fad diet. The benefit of selenium is that it can provide
antioxidant properties. It's possible that a deficiency can increase
the risk for cancer. Another benefit is that it can potentially
reduce the risk for cataract by increasing levels of the body's glutathione
antioxidant system. Too much in the body can be counterproductive to
ideal health.
MultiVit Rx - High Quality Daily Vitamins and Minerals with Vitamin E and Selenium supplement
Manufactured by a FDA-approved and GMP-certified facility.
MultiVit Rx Supplement Facts:
Vitamin A
Beta Carotene
Retinyl Palmitate
Vitamin C with Rose hips
Vitamin D
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)
Vitamin B-1 (thiamine hcl)
Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin)
Niacinamide
Vitamin B-6
Folic acid
Vitamin B12
Biotin - 300 mcg
Pantothenic acid (d-calcium pantothenate)
Calcium (citrate)
Iodine (potassium iodine)
Magnesium (oxide)
Zinc (oxide)
Selenium (amino acid chelate) - The body incorporates selenium into proteins
called selenoproteins, which act as antioxidant enzymes.
Copper (amino acid chelate)
Manganese (carbonate)
Chromium (amino acid chelate)
Molybdenum (amino acid chelate)
Potassium (carbonate)
Green Tea (leaves)
Inulin (Jerusalem artichoke plant fiber
extract inuflora)
N-Aceytl-L-Cysteine
Inositol
PABA (para aminobenzoic acid)
Rutin
Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex
Choline (bitartrate)
Betaine (HCI)
Beta Glucan 1/3-Beta, 1/6-Glucan (insoluble form from cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
Lycopene (from tomato)
Lutein (from marigold
extract)
Astaxanthin
Zeaxanthin
Octacosanol
Selenium overdose, side
effects, safety, excess, adverse events, toxicity
I personally do not think daily ingestion of selenium greater than 100 mcg is necessary. If you buy
it at the 200 mcg dosage, you would not
need to take it every day, but just twice a week, unless your doctor has
found that you have a severe deficiency. Selenium toxicity may occur when daily doses are above 500 to 1000
mcg for prolonged periods. High dosages are not advised in those who have
diabetes.
Cholesterol elevation
Taking too much selenium could increase cholesterol levels by 10 percent and, as
a result, may raise the risk of heart disease. Dr. Saverio Stranges of the
Warwick Medical School in Warwick, England, said the findings of this
observational study are "consistent with the findings of earlier clinical work,"
which have suggested an association between elevated blood levels of selenium
and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. Dr. Saverio
Stranges says, "We believe that the widespread use of selenium supplements or of
any other strategy that artificially increases selenium status above the level
required is unwarranted at the present time." Journal of Nutrition 2009.
PCOS
J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2016. Effects of selenium supplementation on glucose
homeostasis and free androgen index in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A
randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial. Insulin
resistance (IR) is a main pathophysiologic feature in polycystic ovary syndrome
(PCOS) patients which is triggered by elevated oxidative stress in these
patients. Selenium, an essential micronutrient, is a major constituent of
antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase. Recently, decreased plasma
selenium concentrations were reported in PCOS patients. So, the present study
was carried out in order to assess whether selenium consumption can improve the
metabolic response to insulin and reduce the insulin resistance in these women.
A total of 53 PCOS patients (diagnosed by Rotterdam criteria), 18-42 years old,
participated in this randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled trial for
12 weeks. The effects of daily administration of 200μg selenium or placebo on
serum glucose, total testosterone (tT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and
free androgen index (FAI) in fasting state were evaluated. This study showed
that selenium supplementation in PCOS patients may worsen insulin resistance in
them. Until the results of larger studies become available, indiscriminate
consumption of selenium supplements in PCOS patients will warrant caution.
In 2008 the FDA warned consumers not to purchase or use "Total Body Formula" in flavors Tropical Orange and Peach Nectar and "Total Body Mega Formula" in the Orange / Tangerine flavor of these products after receiving reports of adverse reactions in users. The adverse reactions generally occurred after five to 10 days of daily ingestion of the product, and included hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain, deformed fingernails, and fatigue. Selenium, a naturally occurring mineral, is needed only in very small amounts for good health. Selenium can boost the immune system. Generally, normal consumption of food and water provides adequate selenium to support good health. Excessive intake of selenium is known to cause symptoms to include significant hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain, fatigue, loss of finger nails and blistering skin. Analyses of samples of the products by FDA laboratories have now found most of the samples contain extremely high levels of selenium--up to 40,800 micrograms per recommended serving, or more than 200 times the amount of selenium per serving (i.e., 200 micrograms) indicated on the labels of the products. Both product lines are distributed by Total Body Essential Nutrition of Atlanta, which is listed on the products' labels.
Selenium in food and cause of deficiency
Selenium is found in high amounts in meats and seafood. In the
U.S., meats, nuts and bread are common sources. Brazil nuts
have a high content. Eating two Brazil nuts daily is as effective for
increasing selenium status and enhancing glutathione peroxidase activity as 100
µg selenium as selenomethionine.
Plants are the major dietary sources in
most countries around the world since most of the people living in poorer
counties do not have easy access to meat and fish. A major influence
on the selenium content in food depends on the soil where these plants are
grown. Deficiency can occur in certain areas where the soil is poor in
selenium, such as certain regions of China and Russia. Selenium deficiency is
quite often found in those areas because most food in those areas is grown and
eaten locally and the locals do not have much access to imported foods from
other regions.
Brazil nuts: an effective way to improve selenium status.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008.
Participants
consumed 2 Brazil nuts thought to provide approximately 100 mug Selenium, 100
mug Selenium as selenomethionine, or placebo daily for 12 wk. Actual intake from
nuts averaged 53 mug Selenium /d (possible range: 20-84 mug Se). Plasma
selenium and plasma and whole blood
glutathione peroxidase
activities were measured at baseline and at 2, 4, 8, and 12 wk, and effects of
treatments were compared. Plasma selenium increased by 64%, 61%, and
7%; plasma glutathione peroxidase by 8%, 3%, and -1%; and whole blood
glutathione peroxidase by 13%,
5%, and 1.9% in the Brazil nut, selenomethionine,
and placebo groups, respectively. Consumption of
2 Brazil nuts daily is as effective for increasing selenium status and
enhancing glutathione peroxidase activity as 100 mug Se as selenomethionine.
Selenium and mortality - the
ideal amount
Studies show moderate levels of selenium mineral are associated with
longevity. However, when levels pass a certain level, the odds of dying
from any cause, or from cancer specifically, begin to go upward. Dr. Joachim Bleys of Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Baltimore,
evaluated 14,000 U.S. adults. He and his colleagues found that higher blood
levels of selenium were linked to a lower risk of death over a 12 year period,
at which point the risk appears to increase. Apparently high levels of selenium
are associated with an increased risk of mortality. Many Americans ingest more
than the recommended amount of selenium. While the recommended dietary allowance
(RDA) is only 55 micrograms per day, the typical intake in the U.S. ranges from
60 to 220 micrograms daily.
Once blood levels of selenium go over 130 ng/mL, the benefits of selenium stop.
Once selenium blood levels pass 150 ng/mL, the risk of dying from any cause, or
from cancer in particular, increases.
This study raises the question as to selenium supplements are
necessary to enhance health and longevity. Those who want to take selenium
supplements should limit ingestion to two or three times a week rather than
daily. Archives of Internal Medicine, February 25, 2008.
Cancer
Selenium plays a positive role in a number of
degenerative conditions including
cancer, inflammatory diseases, thyroid
function, heart disease, neurological diseases, aging, infertility, and
infections. Most of the effects in these conditions are related to the
function of selenium in antioxidant enzyme systems. Increasing the levels of selenoprotein antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase,
etc.) appears to be only one of many ways in which selenium-based metabolites
contribute to normal cellular growth and function.
Bladder cancer
Diets rich in this mineral could reduce the risk for
bladder cancer
according to Dr. Nuria Malats of the Spanish National Cancer Research Center in
Madrid, Spain,. The study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &
Prevention, 2010.
Eur J Cancer. 2016. Phase III randomised chemoprevention study with selenium on the recurrence of non-invasive urothelial carcinoma. The SELEnium and BLAdder cancer Trial. Patients were randomly assigned to oral selenium yeast 200 μg once a day or placebo for three years, in addition to standard care. Selenium supplementation did not lower the probability of recurrence in bladder cancer patients.
Prostate cancer
J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013. Advanced prostate cancer risk in relation to
toenail selenium levels. Toenail selenium level was associated with a substantial
decrease in risk of advanced PCa.
However, other studies point to an increased rate of
prostate cancer in
those who take high amounts of this mineral supplement.
Cataract eye disease
Selenium has been linked with a reduced risk of
cataract and activates the
antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, protecting cell membranes from
oxidative damage.
Cognitive decline
Selenium levels decrease with age, which may contribute to a loss of
neurological abilities in the elderly. Dr. N. Tasnime Akbaraly, of Universite
Montpellier, and colleagues recruited 1,389 French subjects between 1991 and
1993 for a 9-year study with 6 follow-up periods. At study entry, the average
selenium levels in the blood were 1.09 micromoles per liter -- and the average
levels decreased by the end of the study. However,
cognitive declines were
not seen in all subjects. The investigators report that cognitive decline was
associated with decreases of selenium over time, after accounting for other risk
factors. Subjects with the highest levels of selenium loss had a higher
probability of cognitive decline. These findings, along with information on the
relationship between brain functions and selenoproteins, proteins containing
selenium, support a relationship between selenium levels and cognitive function
in the elderly. The ability of selenium supplements to protect against the loss
of cognitive function in the elderly needs to be evaluated in a large clinical
trial. Epidemiology, January 2007.
Diabetes
In the largest and longest clinical trial to date comparing the effects of
selenium supplements versus placebo or dummy pills, daily doses of the mineral
failed to reduce the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and may have increased it. In
the study, people who took a 200 microgram selenium supplement each day for
almost eight years had an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes relative
to people who took a placebo. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007.
Thyroid function,
what is the influence?
Thyroid function depends on the essential trace mineral selenium, which is at
the active center of the iodothyronine deiodinase enzymes that catalyze the
conversion of the prohormone thyroxine (T4) to the active form of thyroid
hormone, triiodothyronine (T3). A British study did not find selenium
supplements to benefit T4 to T3 conversion in the elderly. American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, 2008.
Selenium Research study
Selenium forms part of a very important enzyme normally present in our
bodies called glutathione peroxidase. The richest sources of selenium are organ
meats and seafood, followed by meat, cereal products, and dairy. The average
intake of selenium in the American diet is 70 to 100 micrograms a day.
Occasional supplementation with 20 to 100 micrograms of this mineral appears to
be safe. Selenium in much higher amounts can act as an oxidant and thus is
counterproductive.
Emails
Q. On your website page on selenium, the page mentions two
things that seem to conflict. Regarding dietary sources of selenium, this quote
"Plants are the major dietary sources of selenium" seems to contradict this
later quote on the same page "The richest sources of selenium are organ meats
and seafood, followed by meat, cereal products, and dairy." What plants are good
sources of selenium? Or, could you otherwise help me understand how plants are
the major source, but the richest sources are meats, dairy, and what sounds like
a very narrow type of plant-based food (cereals)?
A. We clarified our statement to say plants are the
major dietary source of selenium in poorer countries since poor people do not
have access to meat and fish as much as those living in Western countries.
Q. I think consumers should know that may be its prudent to wait for the results
of the SELECT trial (2013) to see any possible diabetes risk with prolonged high
selenium intake before taking in higher than 100 mcg of selenium. Regards,
Hasan Saleem Head: New Product Development Flex Pharma 20 FCC, Maratab Ali Road
Gulberg IV, Lahore Pakistan.
A. We agree that at this point there is no need to take more than
100 mcg a day, and not just for the risk of diabetes, but just over toxicity if
minerals are taken in too high a dose. I think selenium 200 mcg 2 or 3 times a
week is sufficient.
Thank you for your very informative website. I look at
it very often. I see from your website you recommend a smaller therapeutic dose
of selenium (i.e. 100 mcg) I was taking 200 mcg at first for hypothyroidism,
then I was getting an upset stomach so I started to take 100 mcg. It really
seemed to help me at first, now it seems to have made me worse even at the
smaller dose (50 mcg x 2 a day) so I am going to discontinue it. (i.e., I am
getting fatigue, depression, etc) I recently became concerned with information
that too much selenium can cause type II diabetes. If this is the case, how does
too much selenium cause that? Does selenium affect blood sugar or cortisol? Is
is better to take a whole food supplement of selenium?
I am not sure I fully understand how excess selenium influences
the pancreas, perhaps excess selenium is harmful to pancreatic cells. I see no
reason that a whole food supplement of selenium would be better than other forms
of selenium as long as the dosage of selenium ingested is the same.