Selenium
Selenium is an essential trace mineral that the body builds into proteins called selenoproteins. It comes from foods such as Brazil nuts, fish and grains.
Can it help Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
A 2024 review of 35 trials found small reductions in TSH in people not taking thyroid hormone and lower thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Most studies that measured initial selenium status enrolled deficient participants. 1
What do fertility studies show?
A 2018 review found improvements in sperm concentration, total motility, and morphology with selenium. Small samples and differences between studies limit confidence. 2
Should healthy people take it preventively?
BfR finds no evidence that extra selenium prevents chronic disease in healthy people with a balanced diet. 3
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Fertility2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
Longevity2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Organ Function2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Immune Support1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Cardiovascular1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Other effects1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
All studies
3 publications are linked to Selenium, newest first.
Sources
- Does selenium supplementation prevent hypothyroidism in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis? American Thyroid Association, 2024