Selenium Supplements (Systemic)

Category

• Nutritional supplement, mineral - Selenious Acid; Selenium

Description

Selenium supplements are used to prevent or treat selenium deficiency.

The body needs selenium for normal growth and health. Selenium is needed for certain enzymes that help with normal body functions.

Lack of selenium may lead to changes in fingernails, muscle weakness, and heart problems.

Selenium deficiency in the United States is rare. Patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for long periods of time may need selenium. Selenium deficiency is a problem in areas of the world where the soil contains little selenium.

Although selenium is being used to prevent certain types of cancer, there is not enough information to show that this is effective.

Injectable selenium is given by or under the supervision of a health care professional. Other forms of selenium are available without a prescription.

Selenium supplements are available as part of a multivitamin/mineral complex or alone in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Selenium
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Parenteral
• Selenious Acid
  • Injection (U.S.)

Importance of Diet

Selenium is found in seafood, liver, lean red meat, and grains grown in soil that is rich in selenium.

The daily amount of selenium needed is defined in several different ways.

For U.S. -
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amount of vitamins and minerals needed to provide for adequate nutrition in most healthy persons. RDAs for a given nutrient may vary depending on a person's age, sex, and physical condition (e.g., pregnancy).
• Daily Values (DVs) are used on food and dietary supplement labels to indicate the percent of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient that a serving provides. DV replaces the previous designation of United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).

For Canada -
• Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and protein needed to provide adequate nutrition and lessen the risk of chronic disease.

Normal daily recommended intakes for selenium are generally defined as follows:

• Infants and children -
  • Birth to 3 years of age: 10 to 20 micrograms (mcg) per day.
  • 4 to 6 years of age: 20 mcg per day.
  • 7 to 10 years of age: 30 mcg per day.
• Adolescent and adult males - 40 to 70 mcg per day.
• Adolescent and adult females - 45 to 55 mcg per day.
• Pregnant females - 65 mcg per day.
• Breast-feeding females - 75 mcg per day.

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• Sele-Pak ¹
• Selepen ¹