Nutritional selenium supplements: product types, quality, and safety

J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Feb;20(1):1-4. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2001.10719007.

Abstract

Selenium supplements contain selenium in different chemical forms. In the majority of supplements, the selenium is present as selenomethionine. However, in multivitamin preparations, infant formulas, protein mixes, weight-loss products and animal feed, sodium selenite and sodium selenate are predominantly used. In some products, selenium is present in protein- or amino acid chelated forms; in still others, the form of selenium is not disclosed. Current evidence favors selenomethionine over the other forms of selenium. Extradietary supplementation of selenium at the dosage of 200 micrograms per day is generally considered safe and adequate for an adult of average weight subsisting on the typical American diet.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Biological Availability
  • Consumer Product Safety
  • Dietary Supplements* / standards
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level
  • Nutritional Requirements
  • Selenic Acid
  • Selenium / administration & dosage*
  • Selenium / blood
  • Selenium Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Selenomethionine / administration & dosage
  • Selenomethionine / pharmacokinetics
  • Sodium Selenite / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Selenium Compounds
  • Selenomethionine
  • Selenium
  • Sodium Selenite
  • Selenic Acid