Why Selenium Matters
Deficiency seems common among people with compromised immune systems or related conditions like autoimmune, IBS, allergies, HIV, Crohn's disease, Grave's disease and Hashimoto's disease.
Selenium is part of The Iodine Protocol. Dr. Brownstein recommends 200mcg–400mcg when someone is actively taking 50mg. But most people do not start at 50mg unless working with a doctor. Below is an explanation of how we may not be able to use much selenium yet, even if taking a lot of iodine.
Testing Selenium Levels
In an attempt to avoid taking too much, a lot of people test selenium levels via either plasma selenium concentration or RBC selenium concentration. There is an issue with this testing though. There is a protein called SEPP which allows selenium to be "bioavailable," meaning it doesn't really matter what our selenium levels are if we don't have proper function of this protein. "SEPP1 plasma concentration is the best easily accessible marker of human selenium nutritional status."
There are a lot of reports of people feeling better and having better progress by supplementing selenium even though their tests indicate higher levels. This is likely due to activating SEPP with enough new selenium.
Instead of testing, one approach is to study the symptoms of high or low selenium and only use small amounts while continuing to pay attention to how things feel. Over time it becomes clearer how much or how little is needed. On average, some of us take 50mcg or less each day and about 200mcg once a week or so. Foods like blue corn chips, stone-ground mustard, and most seafood are also high in selenium. Sometimes when familiar symptoms of low selenium show up, taking 1,000mcg or more over the course of a day clears those symptoms.
Are High Doses Safe?
Some people have used upwards of 2,000mcg of selenium several times to increase their levels. This isn't something that should be done a lot, but it shows that the body seems to tolerate large doses.
The issue comes from continually taking more than the body is able to use. If someone's metabolism is sluggish enough, even tiny daily doses could eventually cause too much selenium to build up. But as we begin balancing other nutrients, like iodine for example, the body's demand for selenium may increase. This is why it's wise to try various amounts of selenium, or any nutrients we consume, while making note of how we feel with or without it.
Accidental Overdose
A liquid selenium supplement accidentally contained 200 times the amount of selenium its label stated. Of the 200 known cases of accidental overdose due to this product, only 1 person was hospitalized. This highlights how we may have to try rather hard to end up with a toxic amount of selenium, and many of us may have unwarranted fears of trying extra selenium as we work on rebuilding our metabolism.
Low Selenium Symptoms
Anemia. Blindness, cataracts. Scoliosis. Fibromyalgia, cystic fibrosis. Muscular dystrophy. Multiple sclerosis (MS). ALS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's. HIV (AIDS). Cardiomyopathy. Heart palpitations and irregular heart beat. Cirrhosis, pancreatitis. Infertility, miscarriages. Hyperthyroidism. Elevated RT3. Hashimoto's. Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies.
Elevated Selenium Symptoms
Anemia. Conception issues. Garlic breath. Metallic taste. Depression. Irritability. Fatigue. Hair loss. Nausea and vomiting. Brittle nails. Pain. Cirrhosis. Muscle spasms.
Selenium and Iodine
Taking iodine usually allows the body to carry out processes that it previously was not able to. As these "new" processes start happening again, the body is going to require other nutrients to handle byproducts of these new processes as well as toxins that might be knocked loose.
Selenium plays an important part in a handful of metabolic processes and takes on several forms depending which form we consume as well as our levels of various other nutrients. Selenocysteine is decomposed by an enzyme that requires vitamin B6.
Selenium is an important part of vitamin E recycling. If vitamin E is low, selenium has to step up to save our cells from oxidation.
Some glutathione production depends on selenium.
Selenium is part of reducing hydrogen peroxide into water, protecting us from free radical generation.
The activation of thyroid hormone depends on selenium.
Selenium interacts with much, much more.
Which Forms to Supplement
Some people have a sensitivity to foods and supplements that contain yeast. Some forms of selenium are made via yeast. If avoiding yeast sounds important, further research into the specific form is worthwhile.
A lot of foods have a small amount of selenium. The fact that selenium deficiency seems to be rather common makes it reasonable to assume that our food is not able to provide anywhere near enough selenium.
Selenomethionine (Thorne Research)
Research and community opinion claim this is the best form of selenium we can supplement with. Most of the time it is not made with yeast, and if it is produced with yeast, it will most likely say "from Selenium-Enriched Yeast."
The "methionine" part of this form can help most of us get this nutrient through our methylation system, which can be very helpful by itself.
Food-Based Selenium (INNATE Response)
Food-based selenium can be a wise inclusion in the supplement routine. But it is also very wise to get nutrients from as many quality sources as possible, not just one form.
Trace Minerals Complex II
This is a blend of common nutrients used in the processes selenium may allow the body to start carrying out. If we are not getting the extra nutrients of this blend in a multi or protein shake, this complex could be very beneficial vs a solo selenium supplement.
Glutathione and Serious Detox Support
Our main goal with any nutrient is to support our metabolism so the body can tackle whatever is currently most important, which includes detoxing. One of the most important nutrients the body is trying to create is glutathione. By supplementing glutathione, we can give the body an extra boost that can be extremely beneficial if our levels are low.
By using a liposomal form of glutathione, it can be delivered to damaged cells that otherwise would not be able to get their hands on it. And by using a glutathione with important cofactors, we can avoid a situation where glutathione backfires and we assume this important nutrient is not something the body wants.
Without B2, selenium, molybdenum, PQQ and phosphatidylcholine, the body may not be able to utilize glutathione properly and we may assume the glutathione itself is the issue, meanwhile our bodies are most likely in desperate need of the glutathione and the detox it's allowing us to carry out. Glutathione's dependency on selenium just shows how integrated these nutrients are with each other and how important it can be to have enough of each available.
Say No to Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts are commonly recommended for selenium, but we do not recommend them. They are highly susceptible to aflatoxin (mold contamination), which is a serious toxin we are trying to reduce — not add more of.
Beyond mold, the selenium content in Brazil nuts varies wildly depending on the soil they were grown in. Some may have very little selenium while others have extremely high amounts. This makes dosing unpredictable and unreliable compared to a quality selenomethionine supplement.