Selenium supplements are taken by those who lack selenium in their diet or have difficulty absorbing it. Selenium is important for human health, but deficiency is rare. Selenium supplements may reduce cancer risk and deficiency may increase HIV/AIDS risk. Too much selenium can cause toxicity. Selenium supplements come in various forms, and recommended doses vary by age and sex. A healthy diet usually provides enough selenium.
Selenium supplements are supplements taken by those who have difficulty getting enough selenium from their diets or who have conditions that make it difficult for them to absorb selenium. Selenium is extremely important for human and animal health; Small amounts of selenium are needed to ensure that certain proteins and enzymes work properly. Selenium deficiency can cause problems with human growth and health, but deficiency is very rare, so the health effects are not particularly well documented. Some studies have suggested that selenium supplements could be used to reduce the risk of cancer and that selenium deficiency could increase the chances of contracting HIV/AIDS, but there is not enough evidence to conclusively state that the results of these studies are real.
The amount of selenium an individual needs to take each day is generally measured in micrograms; a microgram is several orders of magnitude smaller than a milligram. The amount of selenium required in the human diet, then, is very small. Almost any healthy, balanced diet contains enough selenium to make selenium supplements unnecessary. Generally, only those with specialized conditions, such as intestinal problems that severely limit selenium absorption, should take selenium supplements.
Too much selenium can actually cause selenium toxicity, so those taking selenium supplements should be careful to ensure they don’t take too much. Generally speaking, one should not ingest more than 400 micrograms of selenium per day; doing so can cause a condition known as selenosis. Selenosis can cause a wide range of problems, from bad breath and hair loss to liver damage, neurological damage, and even death. Other possible symptoms include gastrointestinal upset, nail and toenail loss, irritability, and pulmonary edema. Few people need selenium supplements, and those who do need to be very careful to avoid taking too much selenium.
Selenium supplements come in various forms. Some come in tablets and some come in capsules. Extended-release tablets are also an option; These release the selenium in the body over the course of a few hours.
Recommended doses for selenium vary depending on an individual’s age and sex, but are generally between 10 micrograms and 80 micrograms. Men generally need more selenium than women, but lactating or pregnant women need the most selenium in their diets. Generally, it is not difficult to meet or exceed these recommended daily values through a normal, healthy diet.
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