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Glam Journal

What are the symptoms of too much selenium

Author

James Austin

Updated on April 21, 2026

Garlic breath.Nausea.Diarrhea.Skin rashes.Irritability.Metallic taste in the mouth.Brittle hair or nails.Loss of hair or nails.

What are the signs of selenium toxicity?

Selenium toxicity can occur with acute or chronic ingestion of excess selenium. Symptoms of selenium toxicity include nausea; vomiting; nail discoloration, brittleness, and loss; hair loss; fatigue; irritability; and foul breath odor (often described as “garlic breath”). Selenium is found in the environment in soil.

Can too much selenium hurt you?

Taken at normal doses, selenium does not usually have side effects. An overdose of selenium may cause bad breath, fever, and nausea, as well as liver, kidney and heart problems and other symptoms. At high enough levels, selenium could cause death. Interactions.

How do you get rid of selenium toxicity?

Treatment involves discontinuation of the source of excessive intake and supportive care. There is no known antidote or suitable chelator. In a published11 case of selenium poisoning, the patient took 10 tablets a day for 2 weeks following a loading dose of a supplement containing an unknown amount of selenium.

What causes high levels of selenium?

Causes of selenosis range from ingestion of excessive selenium, as is the case of regular snacking on Brazil nuts which could contain up to 90 µg of selenium per nut. There are also many other plants that have the capability to concentrate selenium that is taken up from the soil, which are termed selenium accumulators.

Is selenium safe to take daily?

When taken by mouth: Selenium is likely safe when taken in doses less than 400 mcg daily, short-term. But selenium is possibly unsafe when taken in high doses or for a long time. Taking doses above 400 mcg daily can increase the risk of developing selenium toxicity.

How do you check your selenium level?

Diagnosing selenium deficiency can be done with a blood test, which indicated recent selenium intake. Hair or nail samples can also be taken which gives a better indication of long-term selenium status.

Can too much selenium cause high blood pressure?

Higher selenium levels have been associated with diseases such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus. A recent longitudinal study suggests that selenium may have a harmful role in the development of hypertension in the elderly [12].

How do I know if I need selenium?

Signs of too much selenium include a garlic-like odor on your breath and a metallic taste in your mouth. When foods high in selenium aren’t an option, selenium supplements can also help. Many multivitamins contain selenium, but you can also find it as a standalone product.

How does the body excrete selenium?

Selenium is excreted in urine, in feces, and by other routes, which include exhaled breath and loss of hair and skin cells. Most studies of selenium excretion have been carried out with single doses of 75Se tracers in animals.

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Can you take zinc and selenium together?

No interactions were found between selenium and Zinc. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

What time of day is best to take selenium?

Many people wonder when is the right time to take selenium. Taking it is independent of the time of day. However, selenium in the form of dietary supplements should always be taken with a meal if you have problems taking capsules and tablets on an empty stomach.

Can I take 400 mg of selenium?

Talk to your doctor before taking more than the recommended daily allowance of selenium. Although some studies have used doses of 200 mcg, there is some evidence that this amount could increase your risk for diabetes. DO NOT exceed the upper tolerable limit of 400 mcg.

What foods have selenium and zinc?

Brazil nuts. Seafood, including crab, salmon, tuna and prawns. White meat and poultry like turkey and chicken. Grains like brown rice and lentils.

Where in the body is selenium contained?

Most selenium in the body is stored in muscle tissue, although the thyroid gland holds the highest concentration of selenium due to various selenoproteins that assist with thyroid function.

How much selenium is in an egg?

One large egg can add about 28% of your daily selenium requirement. Most of this content is concentrated in the egg’s yolk. However, the egg whites have about 9 micrograms of selenium, which is a great option for people watching their cholesterol intake.

Can too much selenium cause thyroid problems?

Both excessively high and low levels of selenium have been associated in several studies with an increased risk of disease. Several studies have shown that supplementing with selenium reduces thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO), as well as the severity of hypothyroidism symptoms.

Does selenium build up in the body?

The amount that builds up in the body depends on the chemical form of the selenium. It builds up mostly in the liver and kidneys but also in the blood, lungs, heart, and testes. Selenium can build up in the nails and in hair, depending on time and amount of exposure.

What is the best form of selenium?

Inorganic selenite also has pro-oxidant properties that can result in toxic effects when present in excess. All forms of selenium are well absorbed, but absorption of selenomethionine is the best.

Can you take selenium and vitamin D together?

No interactions were found between selenium and Vitamin D3. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

What vitamins should not be taken together?

  • Vitamin C with vitamin B-12.
  • Vitamin A supplement with vitamin A-rich foods.
  • Folic acid (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12.
  • Vitamin E and vitamin K.

Is 200 mg of selenium too much?

Selenium is suggested in doses of no more than 200 mcg per day. The treatment range for selenium is narrow. You shouldn’t take too much. The recommended dose is 100 mcg to 200 mcg per day.

What is the toxic level of selenium?

In the published reports reviewed herein, serum selenium concentrations span the following ranges: 400–30,000 μg/L associated with acute toxicity, 500–1400 μg/L associated with chronic toxicity, and <1400 μg/L free of toxicity; the category is determined by signs and symptoms in the patient.

Can you take selenium with magnesium?

Selenium combined with magnesium is a promising therapeutic strategy with lipid-lowering and antioxidative effects that protects the liver against hyperlipidemia.

Can you take selenium and zinc with thyroid medication?

Zinc. Zinc is needed for thyroid hormone production, and a deficiency can result in hypothyroidism. When used alone or in combination with selenium, 30 mg of zinc per day may help enhance thyroid function in people with Hashimoto’s disease ( 20 , 21 ).

Is Zinc bad for thyroid?

Background/aims: Zinc is crucial for proper thyroid hormone metabolism; zinc deficiency may result in decreased thyroid hormone levels and resting metabolic rate (RMR).

Is selenium good for anxiety?

Selenium may improve mood by reducing inflammation, which is often at heightened levels when someone has a mood disorder, such as anxiety. Selenium is also an antioxidant, which helps prevent cell damage.

Can I take vitamin C and selenium together?

No interactions were found between selenium and Vitamin C. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

What foods make thyroid worse?

  • Soy foods: tofu, tempeh, edamame, etc.
  • Certain vegetables: cabbage, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, spinach, etc.
  • Fruits and starchy plants: sweet potatoes, cassava, peaches, strawberries, etc.
  • Nuts and seeds: millet, pine nuts, peanuts, etc.