Selenium is critical to normal thyroid and immune function, as well as good reproductive health. Despite its wide availability in foods, deficiency may still occur — primarily due to environmental, health, and dietary factors.
So, let’s take a look at the best selenium supplement options out there that’ll keep your selenium levels optimal at all times.
Top Five Selenium Brands in 2022
We’re committed to providing you with the best products available. If you purchase through one of the links on our site, we may earn a commission. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure. Go Nutrients Selenium 200 mcg
The Overall Best Selenium Product
- 200 mcg selenium per serving
- Highly absorbable
- Easy to dose
- No artificial sweeteners
Global Healing Selenium
The Best Organic Option
- 365% DV selenium per capsule
- All-natural selenium extracted from organic mustard seeds
- No additives
Life Extension Super Selenium Complex
Best Option for the Immune System Strengthening
- Three forms of selenium
- Added vitamin E
- Vegetarian-friendly
Amazing Nutrition Selenium
The Brand With the Largest Number of Servings
- Contains selenium yeast
- Eight-month supply
- Easy to swallow
Zhou Selenium
Top Choice for Cardiovascular Health
- 200 mcg of selenium per serving
- Pure selenium
- Selenium in the form of selenomethionine
Our Top-Rated Selenium Product Reviews
The market is inundated with an enormous number of selenium supplements, each claiming to provide various beneficial properties. But how to decide which one is the best?
To help you, we scoured the market for the best of the best and created this review that analyzes each product’s benefits and flaws alike.
So, let’s dive into our thorough selenium supplements comparison and find out which product is the right one for you!
Go Nutrients Selenium 200 mcg
The Overall Best Selenium Product
- Type: Liquid
- Ingredients: Selenium, purified water, vegetable glycerin
- Shipping policy: Free shipping on orders over $50.00
- Return policy: A 90-day money-back guarantee
- Discounts: Save 10% on subscription orders
There are many reasons why we chose this product as the best liquid selenium in 2022.
This potent formula does everything a top-quality selenium supplement should. It supports thyroid function and cardiovascular health, boosts the immune system, improves vision and skin health, and fights off free radicals, increasing your longevity.
This product’s liquid form makes it easy to dose, consume, digest, and absorb. And, since it’s incredibly easy to swallow (unlike tablets or capsules), it’s excellent for children.
In only six drops, Go Nutrients Selenium delivers a high dose of selenium (200 mcg) in the form of L-selenomethionine (a high-absorbing amino acid containing selenium).
Best of all, Go Nutrients Selenium is one of the top pure selenium supplements that don’t contain much besides selenium. In other words, there are no potentially harmful additives, binders, or fillers that would also slow down its digestion and absorption.
Furthermore, Go Nutrients Selenium is generally safe for those prone to allergies. It’s manufactured using an allergen-free manufacturing process and contains no allergens such as gluten, soy, yeast, or dairy.
Finally, though it’s sweet, it contains no sugar or artificial sweeteners. Its sweetness comes from natural vegetable glycerin.
Pros
- + 200 mcg selenium per serving
- + Highly absorbable
- + Easy to dose
- + No artificial sweeteners
Cons
- − Some consumers found the supplement too sweet
Global Healing Selenium
The Best Organic Option
- Type: Vegetarian capsule
- Ingredients: Selenium, organic gum acacia, cellulose
- Shipping policy: Free shipping for US orders over $75
- Return policy: One-year money-back guarantee
- Discounts: Save 10% on subscription orders
Global Healing Selenium stood out as the best organic selenium on our list. And for a reason!
Unlike many competitors’ products, this supplement doesn’t contain synthetic, lab-made selenium. Instead, it uses the all-natural selenium extracted from organic mustard seeds. For this reason, it also provides other micronutrients found in the mustard plant.
Global Healing Selenium also contains no magnesium stearate or other potentially harmful additives that would impair its absorption. Therefore, this vegan supplement is absorbed quickly and efficiently.
Expectedly, this organic formula also features no harsh chemicals, alcohol, or common allergens such as gluten, dairy, or soy.
Additionally, unlike low-quality selenium supplements available on the market, this organic formula doesn’t have a characteristic intense odor reminiscent of sulfur or rotten eggs.
Only one capsule offers a whopping 200 mcg (365% DV) of selenium and helps you maintain your mind clear, heart strong, thyroid glands functional, metabolism running like clockwork, and the immune system working properly.
Overall, it’ll make you more energized and eager to perform your daily duties, it’ll postpone age-related symptoms, and it’ll keep you feeling young by fighting off harmful free radicals — just like the best natural selenium supplement should.
And since each bottle packs 60 capsules, Global Healing Selenium will be able to do so for two months if taken regularly.
Pros
- + 365% DV selenium per capsule
- + All-natural selenium extracted from organic mustard seeds
- + No additives
Cons
- − Some customers reported receiving damaged bottles
Life Extension Super Selenium Complex
Best Option for the Immune System Strengthening
- Type: Vegetarian capsule
- Ingredients: Selenium, vitamin E, microcrystalline cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, vegetable cellulose, stearic acid, silica
- Shipping policy: Free shipping on AutoShip orders
- Return policy: A 12-month money-back guarantee
- Discounts: Save 21% on AutoShip orders
Though all selenium supplements in our selenium product reviews are effective immune system boosters, we had to single out Life Extension Super Selenium Complex as the best for several reasons.
This potent formula combines three different forms of selenium (Se-methyl L-selenocysteine, L-selenomethionine (yeast-free), and sodium selenite) for enhanced health support, the immune system strengthening, and oxidative stress protection.
The inclusion of vitamin E additionally boosts the immune system, supports your overall health, and helps fight free radicals.
Expectedly, like other top selenium supplements on our list, Super Selenium Complex offers 200 mcg of selenium per serving — enough to provide adequate brain, thyroid, and heart support. And it’s also non-GMO and gluten-free.
A single bottle of Life Extension Super Selenium Complex will last you three months and help you maintain a youthful and healthy look.
Pros
- + Three forms of selenium
- + Added vitamin E
- + Vegetarian-friendly
Cons
- − Some consumers found the supplement's odor too strong
Amazing Nutrition Selenium
The Brand With the Largest Number of Servings
- Type: Tablet
- Ingredients: Selenium (as selenium yeast), brewer's yeast, cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, cellulose, silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, stearic acid
- Shipping policy: Free shipping on all US orders
- Return policy: A 30-day money-back guarantee
- Discounts: Discounts on bulk orders (save 5% by ordering 6+ bottles, 10% by ordering 10+ bottles, and 15% by ordering 24+ bottles)
If you’re after selenium products that’ll last you for months, Amazing Nutrition Selenium is the right pick for you. Each bottle containing 240 tablets presents a whopping eight-month supply and will last you about four times longer than most other brands.
Each tablet provides an impressive 200 mcg of selenium, enough to provide a plethora of benefits such as maintaining the health of your thyroid glands, heart, immune system, and respiratory organs. It also supports healthy aging and helps alleviate joint pain caused by inflammation by fighting off harmful free radicals.
And, just like other top selenium supplements on our list, it’s free of additives, preservatives, fillers, artificial colors, etc.
Best of all, Amazing Nutrition Selenium contains selenium yeast — a highly potent natural form of selenium (more effective than other forms typically used in selenium supplements).
Pros
- + Contains selenium yeast
- + Eight-month supply
- + Easy to swallow
Cons
- − Contains gluten
Zhou Selenium
Top Choice for Cardiovascular Health
- Type: Capsule
- Ingredients: Selenium (selenomethionine), whole rice concentrate, vegetable cellulose
- Shipping policy: Free shipping on subscription orders
- Return policy: A 60-day money-back guarantee
- Discounts: Save 20% on subscription orders; sign up to the company's newsletter to get a 15% discount on your first order
Zhou Selenium stood out as the best brand of selenium for the cardiovascular health of the bunch. According to research, regular selenium intake can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, so what better way to keep your heart healthy than by taking pure selenium?
Each bottle boasts a 100-day supply of selenium in the form of selenomethionine (a superiorly absorbed variant of selenium) and no other ingredients (save for whole rice concentrate and vegetable cellulose).
There’s 200 mcg (365% DV) of selenium in each capsule, enough to keep your Hashimoto under control, alleviate your joint pain, or simply give you a necessary surge of energy. Being a potent antioxidant, selenium can also help support prostate and thyroid health and maintain a healthy metabolism.
Moreover, this formula is vegetarian-friendly and contains no allergens like gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, and wheat. It’s also one of the selenium products that are lab-verified and GMP-certified.
Pros
- + 200 mcg of selenium per serving
- + Pure selenium
- + Selenium in the form of selenomethionine
Cons
- − Some consumers reported the smell was too strong for them
How to Choose the Best Selenium Supplement: A Buyer’s Guide
Choosing the ideal selenium supplement requires you to pay attention to even the tiniest details — ingredients, form, certifications, quantity/price ratio, etc.
We put together this detailed buyer’s guide to highlight all the essential factors you should take into consideration and make sure your shopping experience goes as smooth as possible.
Let’s dive in!
The Importance of Selenium
Selenium is another trace mineral (besides iodine) critical for healthy thyroid function. This doesn’t come as a surprise since the thyroid contains more selenium per gram than any other organ.
Despite existing in relatively small amounts in the human body, selenium plays a critical role in maintaining good health.
It’s essential for:
- Thyroid hormone metabolism
- DNA synthesis
- Reproduction
- Oxidative stress protection
- Infection prevention, etc.
As a supplement, it can also be used for:
- Cardiovascular disease prevention
- Cognitive decline prevention
- Thyroid disorder
- Prostate cancer prevention (200 mcg a day for six years)
- Reducing the risk of hospitalization in AIDS/HIV patients
This is why regular selenium intake through selenium-rich food or pure selenium supplements (e.g., Go Nutrients Selenium and other supplements presented in our reviews list) is imperative.
Selenium Deficiency
Selenium deficiency refers to not having enough selenium in the body for proper function.
While this type of deficiency is rare in the US, it’s widespread in many other areas (affecting about a billion people worldwide only in 2017).
Selenium deficiency in the US is rare due to its availability in foods and adequate selenium levels in the soil. However, selenium levels in the soil are low in many parts of the world (e.g., China), which translates to low selenium levels in food.
Selenium deficiency entails the inability to convert T4 into T3 and leads to a plethora of health issues:
- Infertility in men and women
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Mental fog
- Weakened immune system
- Keshan disease, etc.
Luckily, this type of deficiency can be kept under control by using some of the best natural selenium products (food and supplements).
Groups at Risk of Selenium Deficiency
The following groups of people are more prone to developing selenium deficiency:
- People living in areas with soil low in selenium
- Dialysis patients
- HIV patients
- Digestive disorder patients (e.g., Crohn’s disease patients)
Selenium Food Sources
The best way to keep your selenium levels up is through a balanced diet. Here are some of the excellent dietary sources of selenium:
- Brazil nuts (989% DV per oz)
- Yellowfin tuna (167% DV per 3-oz serving)
- Baked halibut (85% DV per 3-oz serving)
- Canned sardines (82% DV per 3-oz serving)
- Roasted ham (76% DV per 3-oz serving)
If your access to selenium-rich food is limited, you can always resort to some of the healthiest selenium supplement options, such as the ones listed in the reviews above.
Recommended Dosage
The following table highlights selenium’s recommended dietary allowances for different age groups and genders.
| Age | Male | Female | Pregnancy | Lactation |
| 0–6 months | 15 mcg (AI) | 15 mcg (AI) | ||
| 7–12 months | 20 mcg (AI) | 20 mcg (AI) | ||
| 1–3 years | 20 mcg | 20 mcg | ||
| 4–8 years | 30 mcg | 30 mcg | ||
| 9–13 years | 40 mcg | 40 mcg | ||
| 14–18 years | 55 mcg | 55 mcg | 60 mcg | 70 mcg |
| 19–50 years | 55 mcg | 55 mcg | 60 mcg | 70 mcg |
| 51+ years | 55 mcg | 55 mcg |
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for Selenium
To preclude the ill effects of selenium overdose, the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) established guidelines regarding tolerable upper intake levels (ULs) for different age groups, genders, and populations.
| Age | Male | Female | Pregnancy | Lactation |
| Birth–6 months | 45 mcg | 45 mcg | ||
| 7–12 months | 60 mcg | 60 mcg | ||
| 1–3 years | 90 mcg | 90 mcg | ||
| 4–8 years | 150 mcg | 150 mcg | ||
| 9–13 years | 280 mcg | 280 mcg | ||
| 14–18 years | 400 mcg | 400 mcg | 400 mcg | 400 mcg |
| 19–50 years | 400 mcg | 400 mcg | 400 mcg | 400 mcg |
Side Effects
Like all other oral supplements, selenium products may produce side effects, especially when taken in excessive doses.
The most common side effects include:
- Stomach discomfort
- Headache
- Rash
Selenium Overdose
Selenium overdose is a rare occurrence (especially when it comes to food sources). Still, it may occur upon taking much higher doses than recommended (e.g., daily doses of 400 mcg a day for a prolonged period).
Any of the following symptoms may appear:
- Garlicky sweat and breath (early sign)
- Metallic taste in the mouth (early sign)
- Unusual weakness and tiredness
- Lightheadedness
- Irritability
- Tremors
- Nervous system abnormalities
- Muscle tenderness
- Hair brittleness and hair loss
- Nail brittleness and nail loss
- Skin rashes
- Skin lesions
- Facial flushing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Mottled teeth
- Organ failure (extreme cases)
- Death (extreme cases)
So, be extra careful when it comes to dosing the highest-rated selenium product options to avoid this.
Drug Interactions
Selenium can interact with a number of drugs (prescription and OTC).
They include:
- Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications (taking selenium with them may increase the risk of bleeding and bruising)
- Niacin
- Sedatives (selenium might increase their effects and side effects)
- Imunosuppressants, etc.
Factors to Consider When Buying Selenium Supplements
There are several things you should take into consideration before choosing the best selenium option for you:
Certifications
It’s always helpful to look at the bottle (or the manufacturer’s website) and find the product’s certifications that undeniably prove its purity, quality, etc.
Some of the certifications to look for include GMP, non-GMO, FDA, etc.
Ingredients
The best selenium supplements should have a minimal amount of ingredients (preferably only selenium).
However, additional ingredients don’t necessarily mean low quality.
For example, some of the top-quality supplements may contain other ingredients for improving the product’s effectiveness (e.g., ingredients that eliminate selenium’s characteristic odor and taste, vitamin E for boosting the immune system, etc.).
So, you should always look for pure selenium products with selenium extracted from natural sources and no potentially harmful additives, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, etc.
Concentration
Expectedly, selenium supplements currently available on the market vary in potency and concentration. Ideally, a good selenium supplement should provide 100% DV per serving.
Products listed in our best selenium options reviews all deliver up to 200 mcg (350% DV) of selenium per serving and should be taken only once a day, preferably with a meal.
Absorption
Selenium supplements are of little or no use if your body can’t adequately absorb them. Therefore it’s essential to choose supplements that contain selenium forms with high bioavailability.
Selenium appears in different forms in supplements (selenomethionine, selenium-enriched yeast, sodium selenite, sodium selenate). However, selenomethionine seems to be the most bioavailable (the human body can absorb up to 90% of selenomethionine).
For the sake of comparison, the human body absorbs only up to 50% of selenium from selenite.
Form
Selenium supplements are available in several forms:
- Liquid
- Capsule
- Tablet
The liquid form of L-selenomethionine is the absolute best because it combines the best of both physical and chemical forms.
Capsules and tablets are also effective, but unlike liquid selenium, they’re slower to digest due to the need for disintegration.
Price
Selenium prices vary greatly, costing from $10 to $20 depending on the quality and the number of servings. Although it’s convenient to think higher price equates to higher quality, you don’t necessarily have to break the bank to purchase the highest-rated selenium product.
Quality products on our list often offer discounts, promos, and other perks (free shipping, freebies, etc.).
Taste and Smell
Selenium supplements are known for their strong sulfuric smell and characteristic taste. If you don’t think you can tolerate them, maybe you should go for products that contain the best selenium sweetener (e.g., glycerin).
Conclusion
Selenium can be an excellent ally to your health if used wisely. According to science, it provides a wide range of benefits ranging from immune system strengthening to cardiovascular health support.
So, equip yourself with selenium-rich food or a trusty supplement and let your health journey begin.
FAQ
What is the healthiest selenium supplement?
The healthiest selenium supplement on our list is Global Healing Selenium.
It’s made from pure organic mustard seed, has a neutral odor, and doesn’t contain any form of lab-synthesized selenium.
Additionally, it contains no additives or undesirable ingredients often found in other selenium supplements (e.g., alcohol, dairy, gluten, GMOs, soy, etc.). Finally, it boasts a number of certifications that prove the safety and organic nature of this selenium supplement.
Which form of selenium is best?
The best form of selenium is L-selenomethionine, preferably in the liquid form. This is because it has superior bioavailability compared to other selenium forms (e.g., sodium selenite, selenium yeast, etc.).
Liquid selenium also has a faster onset of action than tablets and capsules that undergo disintegration and dissolution before showing effect.
Which thing is selenium good for?
Selenium is helpful against a wide range of health conditions.
Its primary functions include:
- Immune system strengthening
- Organ deradicalization
- Optimal thyroid function support
- Cardiovascular function support
- Reproductive health support
- Skin and eye health support
Is selenium used for diabetes?
The relationship between selenium and diabetes is still controversial. While some studies suggest that selenium can reduce the prevalence of diabetes, others claim that high selenium levels are associated with its increased prevalence.
How much selenium should I take?
There are universally accepted doses of selenium based on age and condition. Generally, the average adult should stick to 55 mcg of selenium daily, while pregnant and lactating women may need up to 60 mcg and 70 mcg daily, respectively.
For more details, consult the table above.
It’s essential to stick to recommended doses. Otherwise, you won’t be safe from overdosing, which can have far-reaching effects, even if you choose the best selenium supplement available on the market.
Overall, you shouldn’t take more than the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 400 mcg to avoid severe complications.
