Selenium supplementation in adults

See Clinical aspects of key minerals and trace elements for the physiological function of selenium, and the effects of and risk factors for selenium deficiency.

Check selenium blood concentration at baseline if the patient is at risk of deficiency. Further testing of selenium depends on the baseline concentrationNational Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2006.

Only use supplementation if selenium deficiency has been identified, because toxicity can occurRayman, 2012. Selenium blood concentration may be decreased in acute or chronic inflammatory conditions, or infections—consider if inflammation or infection is present before supplementationNational Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2006.

To treat selenium deficiency in adults, use:

Toxicity can occur with high doses of selenium (more than 5000 micrograms daily); effects include hair and nail loss, tooth decay, dermatological lesions, and neurological effectsYang, 1983.