Selenium: which form, what each one does, and the dose that worked
Selenium comes in many forms, and what it does depends on the form. Every result below names the form it came from. Pick the form you take to see its own studies, products and what the biohackers say about it. This page is educational, not medical advice.
What it does, by goalMembersThe top 5 of 12 goals
1 of these 86 human studies gave selenium by drip, not by mouth.
| Goal | What the studies show | Studies | Dose that worked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improved in studies Selenomethionine: 7 of 20 improved, 3 no effect · Sodium selenite: 2 of 11 improved, 7 no effect · Selenium yeast: 2 of 4 improved, 1 no effect | 35 | selenomethionine 83 mcg · sodium selenite 200 mcg | |
| Improved in studies Sodium selenite: 7 of 10 improved, 2 no effect · Selenium yeast: 1 of 2 improved · Selenomethionine: 2 studies, no clear result | 14 | sodium selenite 200 mcg · selenium yeast 200 mcg | |
| Improved in studies Selenium yeast: 4 of 9 improved, 4 no effect · Sodium selenite: 1 of 1 improved | 10 | selenium yeast 200 mcg · sodium selenite 100 mcg | |
| Improved in studies Selenium yeast: 1 of 3 improved, 1 no effect · Sodium selenite: 1 of 2 improved, 1 no effect · Selenomethionine: 1 study, no clear result | 6 | selenium yeast 200 mcg · sodium selenite 200 mcg | |
| Improved in studies Selenium yeast: 1 of 3 improved, 2 no effect | 3 | selenium yeast 200 mcg | |
| Improved in studies Selenium yeast: 1 of 1 improved | 1 | selenium yeast 200 mcg | |
| Too few studies Sodium selenite: 4 of 6 improved, 1 no effect · Selenium yeast: 1 of 4 improved, 3 no effect · Selenomethionine: 2 studies, no clear result · 1 by drip, injection or inhaler | 12 | sodium selenite 100 mcg · selenium yeast 200 mcg | |
| Too few studies Sodium selenite: 1 study, no clear result · Selenium yeast: 1 study, no clear result · Selenomethionine: 1 study, no effect | 3 | – | |
| Too few studies Sodium selenite: 1 study, no effect · Selenium yeast: 1 study, no effect | 2 | – | |
| Too few studies Sodium selenite: 2 studies, no clear result | 2 | – | |
| Too few studies Selenate: 1 study, no clear result | 1 | – | |
| No effect in studies Selenium yeast: 1 study, no effect · Sodium selenite: 1 study, no effect | 2 | – |
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Products – highest ranked firstMembersThe top 3 of 17
Dose and safetyThe dose that worked and the upper limit
The doses that worked, by form, in the studies taken by mouth: selenomethionine 83 to 200 mcg, sodium selenite 100 mcg to 1 mg, selenium yeast 200 mcg a day.
The upper limit for adults is 400 mcg of selenium a day, counted as the selenium itself, not the weight of the compound; above it, members see a note and are told they can take less.
Biohacker panelMembersWhich forms of selenium our 10 biohackers name
Questions people askMembersAnswered from the figures on this page
Which form of selenium is best?
Answer for members.
How much selenium a day?
Answer for members.
Can I take selenium with my meds?
Answer for members.
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Educational, not medical advice. Figures come from the human studies on PubMed we have graded; a study counts for a form when it names the form it used. Updated as new studies arrive. How we grade →