The 6 Best Selenium Supplements of 2024 in Australia: A Dietitian’s Picks

Introduction

The mineral content of your food is determined by the soil in which it is grown.

Due to contemporary intensive agricultural practices, today’s soils are becoming deficient in nutrients. Moreover, these practices drain nutrients from soil making vitamin and mineral deficiencies more widespread in affluent countries – and even more so in underdeveloped countries.

Therefore, it is critical to educate yourself on vitamins and mineral supplements beneficial to your health. So;

What is selenium?

Selenium is a mineral that can be present in the soil. It is also present in water and certain foods. Though selenium is required in small quantities, it has various health benefits. Selenium protects against cognitive decline, oxidative stress, and thyroid malfunction. Everyone’s diet needs to contain selenium in the proper amount as excess can be toxic.

Give this article a good read to find out the top 6 best selenium supplements in Australia.

Let's take a deep dive into these 6 best Selenium Supplement in Australia

Tips for choosing the right selenium supplements for you

Form

Organic and inorganic are two forms of selenium. Organic forms include selenomethionine, methyl selenocysteine, and selenium. Inorganic forms include selenite and selenate. Organic and conventional forms are useful, but organic versions are more effective since the body can keep them better. Most of the best selenium supplements in Australia are organic.

Certified

Make sure your supplement is third-party verified. Supplements that have been third-party tested are taken to a lab for testing. It ensures that they contain what they claim and do not contain high-risk, common contaminants. ConsumerLabs, NSF, and USP are three third-party certifications you can trust.

Ingredient

If you’re going to buy a supplement, make sure you read the label carefully. Selenium supplements typically contain gelatin capsules and selenium, while some may also include proprietary mixes, which combine trace amounts of fruits and vegetables with other vitamins.

It’s crucial not to pick a selenium supplement with a proprietary blend because it might not have more helpful elements. In addition, it is typically present in inadequate amounts to make a significant difference.

Check the supplement’s label to ensure it doesn’t include any common food allergies. For example, if you’re allergic to yeast, selenium pills containing yeast may cause you to react. 

Whole food VS synthetic supplements

Whole food supplements contain actual fruits and vegetables, whereas synthetic supplements are prepared in a lab. Some people claim that synthetic supplements are just as effective as whole food supplements and are more natural.

If you prefer to get your selenium from whole foods, you will need to take more pills to get the same amount, but synthetic supplements have more selenium per serving.

Liquid VS Capsule

If you choose a capsule, check the label for the capsule per serving. It ensures you are getting the required quantity of selenium. Some capsules may not be vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free. If you follow one of these diets, make sure the capsule doesn’t contain any gelatin that you can’t eat.

Liquid supplements serving size is measured in drops. So you’ll need to be comfortable using a dropper to acquire the right amount. In comparison to capsules, one disadvantage of liquid is that it may have an unpleasant taste that some people dislike. Look for reviews to see if anyone has mentioned any strange flavours they’ve had.

Capsule size

Swallowing large selenium supplements can be challenging. If you know this will be a problem for you, find out the size of the capsules before you buy them. Manufacturers frequently list the capsule size on the label, so you know exactly what you receive before buying.

Odour

Although selenium has an unpleasant odour, some supplements disguise it better than others. A person with a highly sensitive sense of smell may find it hard to take.

Expiry date 

Check the supplement’s expiration date and ensure it has a long shelf life. It should be up to 18 months after the date of manufacture. Do not buy a supplement that expires within a month or two.

Benefits of using selenium supplements

Selenium is needed only in small quantities, but it has various health benefits. Here are some of them.

Treats thyroid disorder

The fact that thyroid tissue contains more selenium than any other human organ should indicate this mineral’s important role in keeping your thyroid gland healthy. It’s also critical that your thyroid gland functions properly for components of your health like metabolism, growth, and development.

Thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, have been linked to selenium deficiency. A healthy selenium intake help to protect your thyroid from oxidative damage and help in thyroid hormone synthesis.

Boosts immune system

Your immune system maintains your body healthy by identifying and combating possible dangers. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites are examples. Selenium is important for the proper functioning of the immune system. This antioxidant helps your body reduce oxidative stress, which reduces inflammation and boosts immunity.

Increased selenium levels in the blood are linked to a better immunological response in studies. Deficiency proofs impair immune cell activity and result in a slowed immunological response.

Protection against heart disease

By lowering inflammation and oxidative stress in your body, selenium may help lessen your risk of heart disease. Atherosclerosis, or plaque formation in arteries, has been associated with inflammation and oxidative stress.

Atherosclerosis can lead to life-threatening health issues such as strokes, heart attacks, and heart disease. Including selenium-rich foods in your diet is an excellent method to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in your body.

Cognitive decline

Alzheimer’s disease is not the only brain disorder linked to oxidative stress. Parkinson’s disease and numerous sclerosis are also associated with it. Alzheimer’s patients have low selenium levels. Having the Best Selenium Supplement in Australia may reduce oxidative damage, lowering your chance of Alzheimer’s disease and protecting your cognitive health. 

Prevents free radicals from causing damage

Selenium acts as an antioxidant, balancing out free radicals in the body and preventing them from generating oxidative stress-related cellular damage. It’s worth mentioning that free radicals are a natural result of bodily functions, such as metabolism. In addition, external causes, such as pollution and cigarette smoke, can also produce free radicals.

Reduces the Risk of Cancer

Because of its function in DNA repair, selenium may help prevent cancer. However, according to a study, this may depend on selenium and the cancer type a person suffers. Supplementation may not influence cancer risk.

Preeclampsia

High blood pressure, oedema, and protein in the urine are all symptoms of preeclampsia, which develops during pregnancy. According to a study, preeclampsia is more likely among pregnant women with low selenium levels. However, more study is necessary for solid confirmation.

Asthma symptoms

The most prevalent type of asthma is allergic asthma, a chronic inflammatory illness. Selenium has anti-inflammatory properties that help to alleviate asthma symptoms. Even though additional research on human health is needed, animal studies have suggested that selenium supplementation could be beneficial as part of asthma treatment, depending on the individual’s baseline selenium status. When blood selenium levels are low, Taking the best selenium supplement in Australia is beneficial.

Side-effects of using Selenium Supplement

Although selenium overdose is rare, it’s vital to stick to the recommended daily dose of 55 mcg and never exceed the acceptable upper limit of 400 mcg.

The selenium content of Brazil nuts is high. Too much of it can cause selenium overdose.

However, taking supplements rather than consuming selenium-rich foods is more likely to cause an overdose.

Here are some side effects of overdosing selenium:

• a garlic-like smell on the breath and a metallic taste in the mouth
• brittle nails
• mottled or decaying teeth
• gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea
• neurological anomalies
• fatigue and irritability
• skin lesions and rashes
• hair loss
• dizziness
• vomiting
• facial flushing
• tremors
• muscle soreness

Consult your doctor if you see any such symptoms.

Interactions

If you are on any medications listed below, you should not use selenium supplements without consulting your doctor.

• Antacid
• Chemotherapeutic drugs
• Corticosteroids
• Niacin
• cholesterol-lowering statin pharmaceuticals
• Birth control pills 

Anyone with a risk of skin cancer should also avoid taking selenium supplements.

Recommended Dosage of Selenium Supplement

Always consult your doctor for dosage before taking any selenium supplement. Follow this guideline from the national institutes of health to know your daily dosage of selenium.

Age	Recommended dosage
Birth to 6 months	15mcg
7 months to 3 years	20mcg
4 to 8 years	30mcg
9 to 13 years	40mcg
Over 14 years	55mcg

 

Pregnant & breastfeeding women need up to 60mcg of selenium every day.

Conclusion

Even though the body only requires small amounts of selenium for proper functioning, ensuring that you get enough of this nutrient is critical for general health.

Consumers who require an extra boost of this selenium can take advantage of excellent selenium supplements.

Consult your doctor to learn if taking a selenium supplement is right for you, and then choose one of the best selenium supplements in Australia listed above. Do so to get a high-quality product.

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