Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffect on ThyroidSupplement BenefitsDeficiencySources & RequirementsToxicity
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Effect on Thyroid
Supplement Benefits
Deficiency
Sources & Requirements
Toxicity
Seleniumis a mineral that is important for thyroid hormone metabolism. People who don’t get enough selenium may develop thyroid problems such asthyroiditis,hypothyroidism(underactive thyroid), andGraves' disease.
Your body doesn’t makeselenium, so the only way you can get it is through food and/or supplements. Most people meet their requirements, but some are at greater risk for deficiency.
This article looks at why selenium is important for thyroid health and how much you should be getting each day.
Selenium’s Impact on the Thyroid
In adults, the thyroid has the highest concentration of selenium in the body. This mineral plays a key role in your thyroid gland’s ability to produce thyroid hormone.
A selenium deficiency is associated with a variety of thyroid issues, including:
Iodineis the building block and key ingredient of thyroid hormone. Iodine requires selenium in order to be synthesized properly into thyroid hormone.
Having the right amount of selenium in your diet is vital not just for preventing thyroid disease, but for your overall health. Selenium is important for reproduction and DNA synthesis. Additionally, it helps protect you from infection and damage resulting fromoxidative stress.
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Selenium Supplement Benefits
A number of research studies have shown key relationships between selenium supplementation and thyroid and immune function. For example:
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
A 2016 study analyzed the impact of selenium supplementation on the thyroid antibody levels of people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.The study evaluated boththyroid peroxidase (TPOAb)and thyroglobulin (TgAb) antibody levels at three, six, and 12 months of selenium supplementation.
Subjects were divided into two groups:
For those treated with levothyroxine, selenium supplementation resulted in significantly lower TPOAb levels after three months. These levels continued to decrease at six months and 12 months. TgAb levels did not decrease until the 12-month point.
In the untreated Hashimoto’s group, selenium supplementation resulted in a decrease in TPOAb levels after three months, but not after six or 12 months. TgAb decreased at three months, but not at six or 12 months.
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Selenium Deficiency
Selenium deficiency is fairly rare in the United States, thanks to selenium-rich soil.Most Americans easily get the amount of selenium they need on a daily basis.
While the odds of a deficiency are pretty low for most, some people have greater risk. Some of the risk factors for developing a selenium deficiency include:
Symptoms
There are many symptoms that can occur when you aren’t getting enough selenium.Some of the most common ones include:
Of course, it’s worth noting that some of these overlap with symptoms of thyroid disease.
This isn’t a routine test if you have thyroid disease. It’s usually only performed if a selenium deficiency or toxicity is suspected. Still, you or your healthcare provider may want to check your levels at some point to make sure they’re within normal limits.
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Sources and Daily Requirements
Selenium is naturally found in some of the foods we eat, and it is sometimes added to foods to fortify them. Selenium can also be taken as a dietary supplement.There are two forms of selenium: organic (selenomethionine and selenocysteine) and inorganic (selenate and selenite). Both forms are good sources, but research has shown that using the organic form of selenium as a supplement may be more effective. This is because your body absorbs more than 90% of organic selenium but only around 50% of the inorganic form.
Foods that are good sources of selenium include:
Selenium can be found in supplements either alone or in combination multivitamins. Due to its overall effects in the body, research is being conducted on whether or not selenium supplementation may have additional benefits, including:
Daily Selenium Recommendations55 mcg/day for healthy people age 14 and over60 mcg/day for pregnant people70 mcg/day for breastfeeding peopleThis includes all sources of selenium. You can safely take in up to 400 mcg per day between food and supplements.Source: The Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
Daily Selenium Recommendations
55 mcg/day for healthy people age 14 and over60 mcg/day for pregnant people70 mcg/day for breastfeeding peopleThis includes all sources of selenium. You can safely take in up to 400 mcg per day between food and supplements.Source: The Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
This includes all sources of selenium. You can safely take in up to 400 mcg per day between food and supplements.
Source: The Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
What Are the Main Functions of Selenomethionine?
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Selenium Toxicity
While low levels of selenium are a concern, high levels can result in selenium toxicity over time.Symptoms include:
Benefits and RisksDespite the research, there is still no official recommendation in the international guidelines for treating patients with autoimmune thyroid disease with selenium supplements. For those with thyroid disease and low selenium levels, supplementation can be beneficial. For those whose selenium levels are normal to high, however, supplementation could potentially result in toxicity.
Benefits and Risks
Despite the research, there is still no official recommendation in the international guidelines for treating patients with autoimmune thyroid disease with selenium supplements. For those with thyroid disease and low selenium levels, supplementation can be beneficial. For those whose selenium levels are normal to high, however, supplementation could potentially result in toxicity.
Summary
Selenium is a mineral important for thyroid health. Your body doesn’t make selenium, so you need to get it from your diet and/or supplementation.
Selenim deficiency can lead to a number of health problems such as hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease, and Grave’s disease. Research also shows that selenium supplementation may help people with certain thyroid-related conditions.
It is possible to get too much selenium, which can also cause health problems. If you’re concerned about your selenium levels, ask your healthcare provider about having them tested.
A Word From VerywellSelenium is a mineral that plays a key role in keeping your body healthy, especially your thyroid and immune system. While most people get enough selenium from their diet through foods like Brazil nuts, seafood, and eggs, certain individuals may benefit from supplementation after consulting a healthcare professional. If you’re concerned about your selenium intake or thyroid function, talk to your healthcare provider.—KASHIF J. PIRACHA, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Selenium is a mineral that plays a key role in keeping your body healthy, especially your thyroid and immune system. While most people get enough selenium from their diet through foods like Brazil nuts, seafood, and eggs, certain individuals may benefit from supplementation after consulting a healthcare professional. If you’re concerned about your selenium intake or thyroid function, talk to your healthcare provider.—KASHIF J. PIRACHA, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Selenium is a mineral that plays a key role in keeping your body healthy, especially your thyroid and immune system. While most people get enough selenium from their diet through foods like Brazil nuts, seafood, and eggs, certain individuals may benefit from supplementation after consulting a healthcare professional. If you’re concerned about your selenium intake or thyroid function, talk to your healthcare provider.
—KASHIF J. PIRACHA, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ventura M, Melo M, Carrilho F.Selenium and thyroid disease: from pathophysiology to treatment.Int J Endocrinol. 2017;2017:1297658. doi:10.1155/2017/1297658Santos LR, Neves C, Melo M, Soares P.Selenium and selenoproteins in immune mediated thyroid disorders.Diagnostics. 2018;8(4):70. doi:10.3390/diagnostics8040070Wichman J, Winther KH, Bonnema SJ, Hegedus L.Selenium supplementation significantly reduces thyroid autoantibody levels in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Thyroid. 2016;26(12):1681–1692. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0256National Institutes of Health.Selenium: fact sheet for professionals.National Library of Medicine.Food and nutrition board, institute of medicine-national academy of sciences dietary reference intakes: Recommended intakes for individuals.Additional ReadingHu S, Rayman MP.Multiple nutritional factors and the risk of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.Thyroid. 2017 May;27(5):597–610. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0635.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ventura M, Melo M, Carrilho F.Selenium and thyroid disease: from pathophysiology to treatment.Int J Endocrinol. 2017;2017:1297658. doi:10.1155/2017/1297658Santos LR, Neves C, Melo M, Soares P.Selenium and selenoproteins in immune mediated thyroid disorders.Diagnostics. 2018;8(4):70. doi:10.3390/diagnostics8040070Wichman J, Winther KH, Bonnema SJ, Hegedus L.Selenium supplementation significantly reduces thyroid autoantibody levels in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Thyroid. 2016;26(12):1681–1692. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0256National Institutes of Health.Selenium: fact sheet for professionals.National Library of Medicine.Food and nutrition board, institute of medicine-national academy of sciences dietary reference intakes: Recommended intakes for individuals.Additional ReadingHu S, Rayman MP.Multiple nutritional factors and the risk of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.Thyroid. 2017 May;27(5):597–610. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0635.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ventura M, Melo M, Carrilho F.Selenium and thyroid disease: from pathophysiology to treatment.Int J Endocrinol. 2017;2017:1297658. doi:10.1155/2017/1297658Santos LR, Neves C, Melo M, Soares P.Selenium and selenoproteins in immune mediated thyroid disorders.Diagnostics. 2018;8(4):70. doi:10.3390/diagnostics8040070Wichman J, Winther KH, Bonnema SJ, Hegedus L.Selenium supplementation significantly reduces thyroid autoantibody levels in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Thyroid. 2016;26(12):1681–1692. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0256National Institutes of Health.Selenium: fact sheet for professionals.National Library of Medicine.Food and nutrition board, institute of medicine-national academy of sciences dietary reference intakes: Recommended intakes for individuals.
Ventura M, Melo M, Carrilho F.Selenium and thyroid disease: from pathophysiology to treatment.Int J Endocrinol. 2017;2017:1297658. doi:10.1155/2017/1297658
Santos LR, Neves C, Melo M, Soares P.Selenium and selenoproteins in immune mediated thyroid disorders.Diagnostics. 2018;8(4):70. doi:10.3390/diagnostics8040070
Wichman J, Winther KH, Bonnema SJ, Hegedus L.Selenium supplementation significantly reduces thyroid autoantibody levels in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Thyroid. 2016;26(12):1681–1692. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0256
National Institutes of Health.Selenium: fact sheet for professionals.
National Library of Medicine.Food and nutrition board, institute of medicine-national academy of sciences dietary reference intakes: Recommended intakes for individuals.
Hu S, Rayman MP.Multiple nutritional factors and the risk of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.Thyroid. 2017 May;27(5):597–610. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0635.
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