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Selenium

Selenium is a trace element from food and supplements; human studies show mixed to favorable results depending on the field of application and form.

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We evaluated 314 human studies on Selenium, including 169 randomised controlled trials and 89 meta-analyses or systematic reviews; the controlled studies include 242,635 participants in total. As of 4 October 2026.

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1. What Is Selenium? Occurrence, Origin and Forms

Selenium is a trace element that the human body takes up through food. It occurs in soils, plants and animal foods and is part of the body's own enzymes. In studies it is examined as a dietary supplement, mostly in people with low selenium intake or with particular conditions.

Selenium occurs in soils and in plants, and the content varies greatly from region to region. It reaches the body through plant and animal foods, and the amounts differ depending on the food and its origin.

Selenium is obtained mainly as a by-product of metal refining and then processed into salts such as sodium selenite and sodium selenate or into organic compounds such as selenomethionine. Studies examine mainly these forms as well as selenium-enriched yeast.

Forms and Preparations Studied

  • Sodium selenite
  • Sodium selenate
  • Selenomethionine
  • Selenium-enriched yeast
  • Selenocysteine as it occurs in food proteins

Not covered on this page:

  • Selenium disulfide in anti-dandruff products: a topically applied compound, not the dietary and supplemental selenium discussed here.
  • Sulfur: a different element with a similar name that must not be equated with selenium.
  • Combination products with several micronutrients: a separate question, because the share of the single substance in them cannot be separated out.

2. What Does Selenium Do? Results by Area

AreaResult in controlled studiesStrength of evidenceStudiesParticipants
Heart and circulationmixedhigh17 meta-analyses · 41 controlled · 7 other17,260
Thyroid and Hashimoto's thyroiditismostly no differencehigh10 meta-analyses · 26 controlled · 16 other3,052
Immune functionmostly improvedhigh8 meta-analyses · 23 controlled · 7 other2,396
Cancer prevention and cancermostly no differencehigh3 meta-analyses · 24 controlled · 13 other205,108
Pregnancymixedhigh3 meta-analyses · 14 controlled · 4 other1,294
Male fertilitymostly no differencemoderate2 meta-analyses · 1 controlled · 2 other70
Other investigationsmixedhigh46 meta-analyses · 110 controlled · 41 other110,307

How to read the table: counted are human studies whose results concern the area. “High” means at least one meta-analysis and two controlled studies showing improvement, or at least three controlled studies of which three quarters show improvement, with at least 300 participants in total. “Moderate” means at least two controlled studies showing improvement, as a majority, or one meta-analysis alongside controlled studies. “Low” means one controlled study showing improvement. Where an area has no controlled study, the strength of evidence is at most “low” (result “reviews only” or “observational data only”). Everything else is “unclear”. A study counts as showing improvement when at least half of its outcomes in this area improved. Reviews of combination products do not count as meta-analyses; results that only describe side effects or shares of users do not count as an effect. The same study is counted only once.

3. What the Studies Show in Detail

Selenium, Heart and Circulation: Human Studies

Meta-analyses found improvements in individual blood lipid levels: triglycerides in metabolic diseases and PCOS 2428, HDL cholesterol 26 and VLDL cholesterol 46. Total and LDL cholesterol remained unchanged in these meta-analyses 242646. A randomized controlled trial with selenium-enriched yeast also showed more favorable total and non-HDL cholesterol levels in older adults 104, and another randomized controlled trial with sodium selenite or selenium-enriched yeast reports increased GPx activity as well as altered gene expression in atherosclerosis 182. A meta-analysis, by contrast, found a slight increase in systolic blood pressure 57. These findings stand in contrast to studies that found no difference in mortality, in coronary heart disease 3, in prevention 6 as well as after heart surgery 10100121. Also for cardiovascular events, several studies showed no differences 1680. The forms studied range from sodium selenite and selenomethionine to selenium-enriched yeast to selenium preparations not further specified, sometimes as an infusion, sometimes orally. Mixed preparations with vitamin C and vitamin E 93 or with probiotics 39 do not allow any conclusion about selenium alone. A meta-analysis found no association with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality for selenium alone, but lower mortality for antioxidant mixtures with selenium 66. It remains open whether and for which population groups selenium supplementation actually benefits the heart and circulation.

StudyDesign · participantsPreparation · dose · duration · comparisonResult
1 An et al. 2022meta-analysis · 883,627 participantsSelenium supplement (form not stated); vs. Control/placebo in randomized trialsCardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risk: no difference
3 Ju et al. 2017meta-analysis · 43,998 participantsSelenium supplementation (chemical form not reported); vs. Placebo or controlCHD mortality: no difference; Blood lipid profile (HDL, LDL, total cholesterol): no difference
6 Rees et al. 2013systematic review · 19,715 participantsSelenium as sole supplementation; at least three months follow-up; vs. placebo or no interventionall cause mortality: no difference (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.08); CVD mortality: no difference (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.2); non-fatal CVD events: no difference (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.04)
10 Rehan et al. 2023meta-analysis · 2,521 participantsSelenium (infusion), chemical form not reported; pre- and/or postoperatively; vs. Placebo, normal saline, or no seleniumPostoperative mortality: no difference; Length of hospital stay: no difference; Length of ICU stay: no difference
14 Cheng et al. 2025meta-analysis · 2,080 participantsSelenium supplementation (chemical form not stated in abstract); vs. Control group without selenium supplementationtriglyceride: no difference (SMD = - 0.02, 95% CI (- 0.44, 0.41)); total cholesterol: no difference (SMD = - 0.18, 95%CI (- 0.41, 0.05)); low-density lipoprotein: no difference (SMD = - 0.37, 95% CI (- 1.04, 0.31))
24 Qiu et al. 2026meta-analysis · 656 participantsSelenium dietary supplement (form not reported); vs. PlaceboTriglycerides: improved (p = 0.02); total cholesterol: no difference (p > 0.05); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: no difference (p > 0.05)
26 Ouyang et al. 2022meta-analysis · 526 participantsSelenium supplementation (form not reported); vs. Control group (placebo/no supplementation)HDL cholesterol: improved (SMD: 0.97; 95% CI [0.26, 1.68], p = 0.007); Total cholesterol: no difference; Triglycerides: no difference
28 Kazempour et al. 2023systematic review · 413 participantsSelenium supplementation (chemical form not reported); vs. PlaceboTriglyceride: improved; Cholesterol: improved

Further studies in this area: 29 32 33 34 37 39 46 57 60 66 77 80 93 94 95 100 104 107 108 111 112 113 116 121 128 132 134 137 138 140 141 145 151 158 167 168 173 180 181 182 183 186 188 189 192 196 200 212 215 224 227 236 248 277 290 295 296

Selenium, Thyroid and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Human Studies

In Hashimoto's thyroiditis and related autoimmune diseases of the thyroid, selenium showed a reduction in TPO antibodies in several controlled studies and meta-analyses 121517232754. Several randomized controlled studies, by contrast, found no difference in TPO antibodies 123157191208211215. Tg antibodies fell in several studies, sometimes only at individual time points 172354161209240, but not in two meta-analyses 1215. Above all selenomethionine, sodium selenite and selenium-enriched yeast were studied 1727209240. For TSH, two meta-analyses and one randomized study found a slight decrease 1217240, several other studies found no difference 1576176211215. For fT4, several studies showed no difference 12176. For thyroid volume and echogenicity, the studies found no difference 1284209. In Graves' disease, thyroid values improved more with selenium than with placebo in a meta-analysis after three and six months, but no longer after nine months 21. A large randomized controlled study found no higher remission rate in Graves' disease 114. Quality of life did not improve more than with placebo in two large randomized controlled studies 114117.

StudyDesign · participantsPreparation · dose · duration · comparisonResult
12 Huwiler et al. 2024meta-analysis · 2,358 participantsSelenium supplementation (chemical form not stated in abstract); vs. Placebo or controlTSH in patients without thyroid hormone replacement: improved (SMD -0.21 [CI -0.43 to -0.02]); TPOAb: improved (SMD -0.96 [CI -1.36 to -0.56]); fT4, T4, fT3, T3: no difference
15 Zuo et al. 2021meta-analysis · 1,911 participantsSelenium-containing drugs (form not reported); vs. PlaceboAnti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb): improved (MD =-150.25; 95% CI: -04.06--96.43; Z=5.47; P<0.00001); Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): no difference (MD =0.06; 95% CI: -0.53-0.66; Z=0.21; P=0.83); Anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb): no difference (MD =17.19; 95% CI: -254.86-289.25; Z=0.12; P=0.90)
17 Zhang et al. 2025systematic review · 1,610 participantsSelenium supplementation (selenomethionine, sodium selenite, selenium yeast); 3 to 6 months; vs. Control/placeboSerum TPOAb at 3 months: improved (SMD = -0.46, 95% CI: -0.74 to -0.18, P = .001); Serum TPOAb at 6 months: improved (SMD = -0.80, 95%CI: -1.38 to -0.21, P = .008); Serum TgAb at 3 months: improved (SMD = -0.46, 95%CI: -0.79 to -0.12, P = .007)
23 Fan et al. 2014meta-analysis · 787 participantsSelenium supplementation (form not reported); 6 or 12 months; vs. PlaceboTPOAb titers at 6 months: improved (significantly dropped the TPOAb titers); TgAb titers at 6 months: no difference (did not decrease the TgAb titers); TPOAb titers at 12 months: improved (significantly lower TPOAb titers)
27 van et al. 2013systematic review · 463 participantsSodium selenite or selenomethionine, partly with levothyroxine; 200 µg selenium daily; mean 7.5 months (range 3 to 18 months); vs. Placebo, partly levothyroxine in both armsSubjective well-being: improved (RR 4.67, 95% CI 1.61 to 13.50; P = 0.004); Serum anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies: improved (MD -917 U/mL, 95% CI -1056 to -778; P < 0.001); Serum anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies: improved (MD -345 IU/mL, 95% CI -359 to -331; P < 0.001)
49 Kubiak et al. 2023systematic reviewSelenium dietary supplement (12 studies); vs. Control groups in controlled trialsInflammation and thyroid parameters: improved
50 Zavros et al. 2023systematic reviewSelenium supplementation, partly combined with zinc; vs. Placebo or control (not further reported)Thyroid function (FT3): unclear
54 Wang et al. 2023systematic reviewSelenium supplementation (form not reported); 3, 6 and 12 months; vs. Control group without seleniumTPO-Ab in LT4-treated at 3 months: improved (SMD = -0.53, 95% CI: [-0.89, -0.17], p < 0.05); TPO-Ab in LT4-treated at 6 months: improved (SMD = -1.95, 95% CI: [-3.17, -0.74], p < 0.05); Tg-Ab in LT4-treated: no difference

Further studies in this area: 65 76 84 114 116 117 119 123 126 136 146 161 166 171 176 177 187 193 209 211 213 215 216 218 227 240 241 246 250 264 266 274 278 279 284 287 288 290 291 292 293 294 298 299

Selenium and Immune Function: Human Studies

In randomized controlled studies, interleukin-17 fell in ulcerative colitis 143, and interleukin-6 rose less in hemodialysis patients than with placebo 155. In sepsis, selenium nanoparticles increased lymphocyte counts 164, and in HIV selenium slowed the decline of CD4 cells 120. C-reactive protein fell in several controlled studies 167175181224. In premature infants with very low birth weight, late-onset sepsis occurred less frequently in a systematic review 72. Two systematic reviews found no difference in the risk of infection in critically ill patients 4879. Above all selenomethionine, selenium-enriched yeast and sodium selenite were studied; mixed preparations with coenzyme Q10 111112, with zinc, lycopene and vitamin C 152 as well as with probiotics 39 do not allow any statement about selenium alone. The results remain inconsistent depending on form, dose and population.

StudyDesign · participantsPreparation · dose · duration · comparisonResult
12 Huwiler et al. 2024meta-analysis · 2,358 participantsSelenium supplementation (chemical form not stated in abstract); vs. Placebo or controlinterleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10: no difference
13 Allingstrup et al. 2015systematic review · 2,084 participantsIntravenous sodium selenite or ebselen; vs. Placebo or standard careInfections (sodium selenite): no difference (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.23)
14 Cheng et al. 2025meta-analysis · 2,080 participantsSelenium supplementation (chemical form not stated in abstract); vs. Control group without selenium supplementationC-reactive protein: no difference (SMD = - 0.10, 95% CI (- 0.46, 0.27)); Hx-C reactive protein: no difference (SMD = 0.00, 95% CI (- 1.02, 1.03))
24 Qiu et al. 2026meta-analysis · 656 participantsSelenium dietary supplement (form not reported); vs. Placebohigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein: improved (p < 0.00001)
39 Asl et al. 2026systematic reviewSelenium plus probiotics (form and dose not reported); vs. no uniform comparator, ten clinical studiesInflammatory markers, particularly high-sensitivity C-reactive protein: unclear; Immune-related markers including adhesion molecules: improved
43 Hariri et al. 2024meta-analysisParenteral selenium (chemical form not reported); not reported; not reported; vs. Comparison groups of included RCTsSerum IL-6: improved (WMD = -3.85 pg/ml; 95% CI = -7.37, -0.34 pg/ml; p = 0.032); Serum CRP: no difference (WMD = 4.58 mg/L; 95% CI = -6.11, 15.27 mg/L; P = 0.401)
47 Gholizadeh et al. 2023meta-analysisOral or intravenous selenium supplementation; vs. Control group without seleniumPlasma CRP (oral): no difference (WMD: 0.12; 95 % CI -0.11, 0.38; P-value= 0.30); Plasma CRP (intravenous): improved (-2.24; 95 % CI: -4.24, -0.24; p-value: 0.02); Plasma TNF-alpha: no difference (9.64, 95 % CI: -0.59, 19.88, p-value= 0.06)
48 Jaff et al. 2023systematic reviewSelenium supplementation (form not reported); vs. Placebo or standard careRisk of infection: no difference (RR: 0.92, 95% CI 0.80, 1.05, P = 0.207)

Further studies in this area: 70 72 79 111 112 120 143 144 152 155 157 159 162 164 167 175 178 181 185 187 191 199 224 237 240 252 274 280 283 288

Selenium, Cancer Prevention and Cancer: Human Studies

For cancer prevention and in cancer diseases, selenium shows predominantly no advantage in several controlled studies and meta-analyses. In a large randomized controlled study with selenomethionine, the prostate cancer risk did not fall 87, and in the Cochrane review, cancer incidence and cancer mortality did not differ from placebo 4. Also in men with increased prostate cancer risk 102 and after lung cancer surgery 99, selenium-enriched yeast did not lower the risk of new tumors. The response to chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer remained unchanged 142, while side effects of treatment occurred less frequently in two randomized controlled studies 142149. An older meta-analysis found a lower cancer incidence at low baseline selenium levels or high cancer risk 2. The Cochrane review did not confirm this and found in studies with low risk of bias an indication of a higher melanoma risk 4. Above all selenomethionine 858687 and selenium-enriched yeast 102135 were studied, sometimes in combination with vitamin E 858687. Mixed preparations with other micronutrients do not allow any statement about selenium alone 4164. The large prevention studies were predominantly conducted in men.

StudyDesign · participantsPreparation · dose · duration · comparisonResult
2 Lee et al. 2011meta-analysis · 152,538 participantsSelenium supplement alone (chemical form not reported); vs. PlaceboCancer incidence, all 9 RCTs: improved (RR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.58-0.99); Cancer incidence in low baseline serum selenium: improved (RR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.53 to 0.78); Cancer incidence in high-risk population: improved (RR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.58 to 0.80)
4 Vinceti et al. 2018systematic review · 27,232 participantsSelenium supplements versus placebo; vs. PlaceboAny cancer incidence: no difference (RR 1.01 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.10)); Cancer mortality: no difference (RR 1.02 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.30)); Colorectal cancer: no difference (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.43)
41 Li et al. 2025meta-analysisSelenium as part of a multinutrient mixture or dietary intake; vs. lower vs. higher selenium intake/levels or supplementation vs. controlCIN2 regression and oxidative/immune profile: improved
45 Barnhart et al. 2024systematic reviewSelenium, sometimes combined with vitamin C and/or vitamin E; vs. No control reportedefficacy of antioxidant supplementation: improved
64 Grammatikopoulou et al. 2020systematic reviewSelenium, partly combined with other dietary factors/supplements; vs. randomized controlled trials of various dietary factorsPSA concentration: unclear
82 Hou et al. 2013systematic reviewSelenium (form and dose not stated); vs. Comparison of evidence across dietary factorsColorectal cancer risk: unclear (less consistent evidence)
85 Dunn et al. 2009randomised controlled · 35,534 participantsL-selenomethionine, alone or with vitamin E; 200 µg/day selenium; 400 IU/day vitamin E; minimum 7, maximum 12 years; vs. placebo, randomized, double-blindOccurrence of prostate cancer (primary endpoint): unclear
86 Dunn et al. 2010randomised controlled · 35,533 participantsL-selenomethionine, alone or with vitamin E; 200 µg/day L-selenomethionine; 7 to 12 years; vs. Placebo or vitamin E aloneProstate cancer incidence: no difference (1.04 (99% CI = 0.87-1.24, P = 0.62; n = 432))

Further studies in this area: 87 88 89 91 92 95 96 97 98 99 102 107 122 135 142 149 153 221 234 238 243 247 255 256 257 259 269 275 282 289 296 300

Selenium and Pregnancy: Human Studies

In pregnant women with gestational diabetes, several controlled studies found improvements in glucose and insulin metabolism with selenium supplementation 167235. A randomized controlled study with a selenium tablet found no difference here 184. In a randomized controlled study with selenium-enriched yeast, neonatal jaundice and hospital admissions of the newborns occurred less frequently 223. In HIV-positive pregnant women, selenium lowered the risk of premature birth 127, and a meta-analysis of randomized studies found preeclampsia less frequently 78. In two randomized controlled studies in pregnant women with increased preeclampsia or growth risk, blood flow in the uterine artery improved 179186.

StudyDesign · participantsPreparation · dose · duration · comparisonResult
53 McDougall et al. 2023systematic reviewSelenium supplementation (form not reported); vs. Placebo or no treatmentPreterm birth <37 weeks of gestation: unclear (relative risk, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-1.63); Preterm birth <34 weeks of gestation: unclear (relative risk, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.59-1.44)
73 Plows et al. 2019systematic reviewNutritional supplements, including seleniumGlycemic control or prevention of gestational diabetes: unclear
78 Xu et al. 2016meta-analysisSelenium (form not specified); vs. healthy pregnant women or placebo/controlBlood selenium concentration: worsened (-6.47 μg/l (95 % CI -11.24 to -1.7, p = 0.008)); Incidence of preeclampsia: improved (0.28 (0.09 to 0.84) (p = 0.02))
124 Mao et al. 2016randomised controlled · 230 participantsselenium supplement (form not stated); 60 µg/day; from 12 weeks of gestation until delivery; vs. placebochange in plasma adiponectin concentration from 12 to 35 weeks: no difference (P=0·938); adiponectin change in bottom quartile of baseline selenium status: no difference (P=0·515); adiponectin change in top quartile of baseline selenium status: no difference (P=0·858)
127 Okunade et al. 2021randomised controlled · 180 participantsDaily tablet of 200 µg elemental selenium; 200 µg elemental selenium daily; until delivery, some beyond 14 weeks; vs. Placebo tabletRisk of preterm delivery: improved (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.11-0.96); Risk of term neonate with low delivery weight: no difference (RR 0.24, 95% CI 0.05-1.19); Perinatal death and adverse drug events
129 Boskabadi et al. 2012randomised controlled · 166 participants100 µg selenium as selenium-yeast tablet vs. placebo-yeast tablet; 100 µg selenium daily; vs. placebo-yeast tabletcord blood triglycerides: worsened (p=0.01); cord blood selenium concentration: no difference; cord blood total cholesterol: no difference
130 Tara et al. 2010randomised controlled · 166 participantsselenium supplement, chemical form not stated; 100 µg selenium per day until delivery; until delivery; vs. placebo, double-blind, randomizedincidence of preeclampsia: no difference (p > 0.05)
131 Tara et al. 2010randomised controlled · 166 participantsSelenium 100 µg daily versus placebo; 100 µg selenium per day; until delivery; vs. PlaceboSerum selenium concentration: improved (P<0.001); Prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB): no difference; PAB in control group: worsened (P<0.05)

Further studies in this area: 167 179 180 184 186 220 223 235 239 262 273 288 290

Selenium and Male Fertility: Human Studies

A meta-analysis found better semen parameters under selenium alone in oligo- and asthenozoospermia 67. In a network meta-analysis of eight antioxidants, by contrast, only coenzyme Q10 and carnitine showed confirmed advantages, selenium did not 16. A randomized controlled trial with selenium, vitamin E and folic acid found no difference from placebo 165. The chemical form of the selenium is not named in these studies, and some of the preparations contained additional micronutrients. The strength of evidence is overall unclear: Besides two meta-analyses, only one small controlled trial is available.

StudyDesign · participantsPreparation · dose · duration · comparisonResult
16 Su et al. 2022meta-analysis · 1,790 participantsSelenium as oral antioxidant supplement (form not reported); vs. Placebo and seven other antioxidants (folic acid, zinc, vitamin E, carnitine, CoQ10, N-acetylcysteine, vitamin C)sperm concentration: unclear; sperm motility: unclear; sperm morphology: unclear
67 Buhling et al. 2019meta-analysisoral micronutrient supplementation, including selenium; selenium 200 µg/day and 100 µg/day; vs. placebo (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled)semen parameters in oligozoospermia: improved (SMD 0.64); semen parameters in asthenozoospermia: improved (SMD 1.39)
165 Bahmyari et al. 2021randomised controlled · 70 participantsSelenium tablet plus vitamin E capsule plus folic acid tablet (combination); Selenium 200 µg/day, vitamin E 400 IU/day, folic acid 5 mg/day, oral; three months; vs. placebo group receiving matching placebosemen volume: no difference (P=0.610); sperm concentration: no difference (P=0.126); total sperm motility: no difference (P=0.765)
272 Ramgir-Naidu et al. 2026reviewSelenium alongside other micronutrients and fatty acidssperm concentration, motility, morphology, DNA integrity: unclear
297 Yao et al. 2016reviewSelenium (form not specified); vs. Placebo/control in RCTsPositive effects on male fertility: improved

Selenium: Further Outcomes in Studies

In this area, a very large number of controlled studies and meta-analyses on different questions were evaluated, with mixed results. Several controlled studies and meta-analyses found improvements in selenium status, for example with selenium-enriched yeast and oral sodium selenite 14105108109130139. Glutathione peroxidase activity also increased in several controlled studies and meta-analyses, among others with selenomethionine and sodium selenite 36983141189199. For mortality in critically ill patients, two meta-analyses found a benefit 848. Several meta-analyses on sepsis, heart surgery and intensive care patients, by contrast, found no difference 25446879. Isolated studies reported adverse effects: a randomized controlled trial with selenium-enriched yeast in older people in Denmark found higher all-cause mortality at the highest dose 107, a randomized controlled trial with selenium in type 2 diabetes found a worsening of blood glucose control 192, and a randomized controlled trial with selenium in PCOS patients found a worsening of insulin resistance 201. Various forms were studied, such as sodium selenite, sodium selenate, selenomethionine and selenium-enriched yeast, sometimes orally, sometimes intravenously. In Kashin-Beck disease, in a network meta-analysis all selenium forms tested improved the radiographic findings of the bones compared with placebo 9. In PCOS, selenium lowered fasting insulin in a meta-analysis on trace elements 18.

StudyDesign · participantsPreparation · dose · duration · comparisonResult
3 Ju et al. 2017meta-analysis · 43,998 participantsSelenium supplementation (chemical form not reported); vs. Placebo or controlSerum CRP: improved (SMD=-0.48; 95% CI, -0.96 to 0; p=0.049); Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX): improved (SMD=0.5; 95% CI, 0.36-0.64; p<0.001)
4 Vinceti et al. 2018systematic review · 27,232 participantsSelenium supplements versus placebo; vs. PlaceboType 2 diabetes risk: worsened (slightly increased risk of type 2 diabetes)
5 Mao et al. 2014meta-analysis · 20,294 participantsSelenium supplementation (form not reported); vs. Selenium supplementation versus control groupsRelative risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: no difference (1.09 (95 % CI: 0.99-1.20, p = 0.085))
6 Rees et al. 2013systematic review · 19,715 participantsSelenium as sole supplementation; at least three months follow-up; vs. placebo or no interventiontype 2 diabetes: worsened (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.15)
7 Pham et al. 2024meta-analysis · 9,366 participantsSelenium, alone or combined, alongside melatonin, vitamin C, vitamin E, N-acetylcysteine; vs. direct and indirect comparisons among antioxidant therapies28-day mortality: unclear (not statistically significant); SOFA score: unclear
8 Zhao et al. 2019meta-analysis · 3,341 participantsintravenous selenium supplementation as single therapy; vs. control/placebototal mortality: improved (RR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.78-0.95, P = .002); 28-days mortality: no difference (RR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.85-1.09, P = .54); length of stay in hospital: improved (MD -2.30, 95% CI -4.03 to -0.57, P = .009)
9 Xie et al. 2018meta-analysis · 2,931 participantsSelenium salt, sodium selenite, selenium-enriched yeast, sodium selenite + vitamin E, sodium selenite + vitamin C; vs. PlaceboMetaphysis X-ray improvement: improved
10 Rehan et al. 2023meta-analysis · 2,521 participantsSelenium (infusion), chemical form not reported; pre- and/or postoperatively; vs. Placebo, normal saline, or no seleniumAcute kidney injury: no difference

Further studies in this area: 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 40 42 44 45 48 49 50 51 52 55 56 58 59 60 61 62 63 66 68 69 70 71 72 74 75 76 77 79 81 83 84 86 87 90 91 93 95 98 101 103 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 115 116 118 119 120 121 122 125 128 130 132 133 137 139 141 142 143 147 148 149 150 154 155 156 158 160 162 163 164 167 168 169 170 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 183 185 186 188 189 190 191 192 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 209 210 214 215 216 217 218 219 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 241 242 244 245 246 249 251 253 254 255 258 260 261 263 264 265 267 268 269 270 271 276 277 281 285 286 288 289 290 296 301 302

4. How Is Selenium Dosed? Preparation, Dose and Duration in Studies

The studies predominantly used oral forms: selenomethionine, selenium-enriched yeast, sodium selenite and sodium selenate. Individual studies gave selenium intravenously, such as sodium selenite in cardiac surgery patients 100 or in critically ill patients 8202281. Some of the investigations tested selenium only together with other substances, such as with coenzyme Q10, so that no independent effect of selenium can be derived 111112.

Preparation or formDoseDurationStudy
L-selenomethionine, alone or with vitamin E200 µg/day selenium; 400 IU/day vitamin Eminimum 7, maximum 12 years85
L-selenomethionine, alone or with vitamin E200 µg/day L-selenomethionine7 to 12 years86
Oral L-selenomethionine, alone or combined with vitamin E200 µg selenium daily; vitamin E 400 IU dailyPlanned follow-up 7–12 years, median 5.46 years87
Selenium and/or vitamin E supplementation—median follow-up 7.1 years (IQR 6.4-8.0)88
oral L-selenomethionine, with or without vitamin E or placebo200 µg selenium per dayplanned follow-up minimum 7, maximum 12 years89
L-selenomethionine as individual supplement (or vitamin E)200 µg selenium per daymean treatment and follow-up 5.6 years90
L-selenomethionine, 2×2 factorial with alpha-tocopherol200 µg L-selenomethionine daily6-year supplementation91
Vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium (multinutrient supplement)—7.3 years93
Micronutrient capsules with 37.5 mg selenium plus vitamin C and E (mixture)2 capsules daily with 250 mg vitamin C, 100 IU vitamin E, 37.5 mg selenium7.3 years94
Vitamin supplement with C, E and selenium; garlic extract and oil; H. pylori treatment—Supplementation 7.3 years (1995-2003), follow-up through 201795
Selenium plus vitamin C and vitamin E (vitamin treatment)—7.3 years supplementation, 14.7 years follow-up96
Vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium (combined supplement)—7.3 years97
Selenium as selenized yeast, 200 µg/day200 µg selenium dailymedian 33.0-33.6 months98
Selenized yeast200 μg daily48 months99
Intravenous high-dose sodium selenite versus placebo2000 μg/L before cardiopulmonary bypass, 2000 μg/L immediately postoperatively, then 1000 μg/L daily in ICU, maximum 10 daysPerioperative up to 10 days; 30-day follow-up100

5. Is Selenium Safe? Side Effects in Studies

In several reviews and controlled trials, selenium preparations were well tolerated, and adverse events did not differ from placebo 825. In the largest prevention study, however, alopecia and dermatitis occurred more frequently with selenium 4, and in randomized trials the risk of type 2 diabetes increased slightly 474. A randomized controlled trial with selenium-enriched yeast in older people in Denmark found higher all-cause mortality at the highest dose 107, and the Cochrane review reports an indication of a higher melanoma risk 4.

StudyReported side effects
4 Vinceti et al. 2018Alopecia, dermatitis, type 2 diabetes, high-grade prostate cancer with high baseline status
6 Rees et al. 2013alopecia RR 1.28, dermatitis grade 1-2 RR 1.17, type 2 diabetes RR 1.06 (not significant)
8 Zhao et al. 2019no increase in drug-induced side effects (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.83-1.30, P = .73)
12 Huwiler et al. 2024adverse effects comparable (OR 0.89 [CI 0.46 to 1.75])
19 Chen et al. 2025adverse events comparable (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.94-1.10)
20 Huang et al. 2013no evidence of adverse events
22 Alhazzani et al. 2013Heterogeneity in adverse event reporting precluded pooling
23 Fan et al. 2014no significant adverse events
25 Kong et al. 2013No difference in adverse events (RR 0.97)
27 van et al. 2013One event each in two studies; no significant difference
32 Stróżyk et al. 2019One adverse event (nausea) as reason for discontinuation; reporting inaccurate
37 Urbano et al. 2026adverse blood lipid changes at high dose/intake

6. What Remains Open: Limits of the Evidence

  • The participants' baseline selenium supply differed and was often not reported, which limits the transferability of the results.
  • Many measures are blood values such as the selenium concentration in serum and not clinical endpoints.
  • Some of the studies tested selenium in mixed preparations; for these, no independent effect of selenium can be derived.
  • The chemical form and the amount administered were not reported in all studies.
  • For male fertility, besides one meta-analysis there is only one small controlled trial, and that with a mixed preparation.

7. Bottom Line: What Is Established About Selenium

Selenium is a trace element that the body takes in through food and needs as a component of selenoproteins. Human studies show different results depending on the field of application: In Hashimoto's thyroiditis, meta-analyses showed that above all the TPO antibodies fell, individual inflammation and immune markers improved, and in gestational diabetes some studies found more favorable blood sugar levels. For cancer prevention and cancer diseases, predominantly no advantage was found, and for male fertility the data situation is unclear.

The results depend strongly on the chemical form, the amount supplied and the baseline supply of the participants. Under selenium supplementation, alopecia and dermatitis were reported more frequently as well as a slightly increased risk for type 2 diabetes, and the highest dose tested was associated with higher mortality in one study.

Frequently Asked Questions

How well has Selenium been studied in humans?

We evaluated 314 human studies on Selenium, including 169 randomised controlled trials and 89 meta-analyses or systematic reviews; the controlled studies include 242,635 participants in total. As of 4 October 2026.

Does Selenium help with heart and circulation? What the studies show

We evaluated 17 meta-analyses or systematic reviews, 41 controlled studies and 7 further studies; the controlled studies include 17,260 participants in total. Result of the controlled studies: mixed. Strength of evidence under our published rules: high. Sources: 13610

Does Selenium help with thyroid and Hashimoto's thyroiditis? What the studies show

We evaluated 10 meta-analyses or systematic reviews, 26 controlled studies and 16 further studies; the controlled studies include 3,052 participants in total. Result of the controlled studies: mostly no difference. Strength of evidence under our published rules: high. Sources: 12151723

Does Selenium help with immune function? What the studies show

We evaluated 8 meta-analyses or systematic reviews, 23 controlled studies and 7 further studies; the controlled studies include 2,396 participants in total. Result of the controlled studies: mostly improved. Strength of evidence under our published rules: high. Sources: 12131424

Does Selenium help with cancer prevention and cancer? What the studies show

We evaluated 3 meta-analyses or systematic reviews, 24 controlled studies and 13 further studies; the controlled studies include 205,108 participants in total. Result of the controlled studies: mostly no difference. Strength of evidence under our published rules: high. Sources: 244145

Does Selenium help with pregnancy? What the studies show

We evaluated 3 meta-analyses or systematic reviews, 14 controlled studies and 4 further studies; the controlled studies include 1,294 participants in total. Result of the controlled studies: mixed. Strength of evidence under our published rules: high. Sources: 537378124

Does Selenium help with male fertility? What the studies show

We evaluated 2 meta-analyses or systematic reviews, one controlled study and 2 further studies; the controlled studies include 70 participants in total. Result of the controlled studies: mostly no difference. Strength of evidence under our published rules: moderate. Sources: 1667165272

What is selenium and what does the body need it for?

Selenium is a trace element that humans take in through food and that occurs in soils, plants and animal foods. It is a component of the body's own enzymes, the selenoproteins. In studies, it is mostly tested as a dietary supplement in people with low selenium intake or with certain diseases.

Which forms of selenium were used in the studies?

Mainly selenomethionine, selenium-enriched yeast, sodium selenite and sodium selenate were investigated. Individual studies gave selenium intravenously, such as sodium selenite in cardiac surgery patients 100. The forms differ in absorption and residence time in the body, which is why the results cannot be readily transferred.

Does selenium show a benefit in Hashimoto's thyroiditis?

In meta-analyses, selenium lowered above all the TPO antibodies 121723, whereas several randomized controlled trials found no difference 157191208. In two large randomized controlled trials, selenium did not improve quality of life, neither in Hashimoto's thyroiditis nor in Graves' disease 114117.

Does selenium help against cancer?

For cancer prevention and in cancer diseases, selenium shows predominantly no advantage in several controlled studies and meta-analyses. Cancer frequency did not fall in large randomized controlled studies or in the Cochrane review 487102, nor did cancer mortality 4. An advantage at low baseline selenium levels, which an older meta-analysis found 2, was not confirmed there 4.

Which side effects are known with selenium supplementation?

In several reviews and controlled studies, selenium preparations were well tolerated, and adverse events did not differ from placebo 825. In the largest prevention study, hair loss (alopecia) and skin inflammation occurred more frequently with selenium, and the risk for type-2 diabetes rose slightly 474. A randomized controlled study with selenium-enriched yeast in older people in Denmark found higher overall mortality with the highest dose 107.

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Every statement on this page carries its evidence tier — proven, plausible or hypothesis — and leads to the original work. The decision in the individual case rests with the practitioner; we provide the connections.

International Health Research · https://ih-research.com/en/knowledge/selenium/ · Last updated: 2026-10-15