12 Best Selenium Supplements (2024) for Anti-Aging, Thyroid Support, and Great Hair

Trace minerals like selenium are essential for health but often fly under the radar.

Selenium is crucial for immune function, thyroid health, detoxification, anti-aging, and antioxidant support. Your body uses selenium to activate specific proteins – called selenoproteins – that are antioxidants in the body.

However, declining soil quality, food processing, and questionable dietary choices mean you might not be getting enough of this mineral. Unfortunately, this will have health consequences down the road.

Today, we’ll cover the best selenium supplements available in 2024.

Fun fact: Selenium is named after Selene, The Greek Goddess of the moon. If you learn nothing else from this article, that fun fact may help at the next quiz night.

What is the Best Selenium Supplement in 2023?

With literally hundreds of selenium supplements available, we’ve selected the 12 most bioavailable products on the market.

Here is our “short list” if you can’t wait to get started:

Best Selenium Drops: Upgraded Formulas Selenium

Best Liposomal Selenium Supplement: Codeage Liposomal Selenium

Best Vitamin E and Selenium: Life Extension Super Selenium Complex

Best Selenium with Zinc: California Gold Nutrition Immune 4

Best Multivitamin with Selenium: Kaged Multivitamin

Best Trace Minerals with Selenium: Thorne Research Pic-Mins

Best Nano Selenium: Upgraded Formulas Selenium

*Note: We do have affiliate links throughout this article, which means we receive a commission if you purchase from any of our links. This supports our mission to bring complicated health and fitness info in an entertaining package. And it keeps us from putting up annoying things like banner ads. Those suck.

1) Upgraded Formulas Selenium (Best Selenium Drops)

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Upgraded Selenium stands out because of its ultra-high quality and high bioavailability. This means you actually absorb the selenium you take. Absorption is everything.

Most conventional mineral supplements do not absorb well. Upgraded Selenium uses Stabilized Nano Mineral Technology to improve absorption. Simply put, they use smaller particles that get absorbed easier and faster. 

In fact, Upgraded Formulas has tested their product, and it’s 99% – 99.99% absorbable.

Each serving delivers 400 mcg of liquid selenium in the form of nano L-selenomethionine.

In addition, Upgraded Selenium is 100 % natural, organic, gluten-free, keto, and vegan-friendly. It has no fillers or artificial flavors.

It also comes with a 100-day money-back guarantee.

Every bottle contains 60 servings and a convenient dropper to support accurate dosing.

We also love that Upgraded gives back to charity and donates a portion of all money to Charity:Water. This organization provides clean and sustainable water to millions of people around the world.

For these reasons, Upgraded Selenium is our clear #1 pick.

2) Codeage Liposomal Selenium (Best Liposomal Selenium)

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Codeage strives to develop science-backed longevity supplements that your cells can actually use. They use liposomal delivery systems to ensure your cells absorb and use the nutrients efficiently.

Liposomal delivery means the molecules are protected in a layer of fatty acids called “liposomes.” This helps the selenium to make it through the harsh environment of the stomach into your bloodstream. This also makes it easier for your cells to recognize and incorporate.

Their selenium supplement provides 200 mcg of L-Selenomethionine per capsule, wrapped in a liposomal delivery matrix. 

L-selenomethionine is a highly absorbable form of supplemental selenium.

This product is high on our list because it’s one of the most bioavailable supplements out there. It’s also 100% vegan, non-GMO, and free from dairy, soy, and gluten.

Bonus: One bottle will last 6 months. 

Codeage has some of the strictest production and testing standards around. All their products are third-party tested and manufactured in FDA-approved cGMP facilities.

3) Life Extension Super Selenium Complex (Best Vitamin E and Selenium)

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Life Extension is among the best in the game for anti-aging supplements.

Their Super Selenium Complex provides a 200-mcg blend of three different forms of selenium:

• 100 micrograms of L-selenocysteine
• 50 micrograms of L-selenomethionine
• 50 micrograms of sodium selenite

You also get 20 mg of vitamin E, known for protecting cell membranes from free radical damage. It may also enhance the benefits of selenium.

This study found vitamin E may work synergistically with selenium to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth.

Life Extension products are third-party tested and come with Certificates of Analysis (COA).

4) Trace Minerals Ionic Selenium

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Trace Minerals is known as America’s #1 Trace Mineral Brand.

Each 1.25 ml serving of Trace Minerals Selenium delivers 300 mcg of selenium selenate. Plus, it includes 20 mg of ionic magnesium, 60 mg of ionic chloride, and 350 mg of an ionic trace mineral blend. As minerals work in synergy, this is a welcome addition.

The liquid is gluten-free, certified vegan, and non-GMO. It also undergoes third-party testing to ensure quality and potency.

Each bottle also has a dropper, making it easy to add to water, juice, and shakes.

5) Thorne Research Pic-Mins (Best Trace Minerals with Selenium)

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Thorne Research understands that trace minerals work best in synergy. They’ve created Pic-Mins, an affordable trace mineral formula containing zinc, selenium, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, boron, and vanadium.

They use the most absorbable nutrients in their products, including 100 mcg of selenium as bioavailable selenomethionine.

Thorne is certified by NSF International and the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA), an Australian Government Department of Health regulatory agency.

Each product goes through four rounds of thorough testing to verify identity, potency, and purity

6) Thorne Research Selenomethionine

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Thorne offers the same bioavailable, third-party-tested selenium as a standalone supplement.

Each capsule offers 200 mcg of selenomethionine. It’s also free from additives, gluten, soy, and GMOs.

A bottle contains 60 capsules, which is a 2-month supply.

7) California Gold Immune 4 (Best Selenium with Zinc)

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California Gold Nutrition Immune 4 is an immune-boosting formula that combines four clinically studied ingredients.

Each capsule features 50 mcg of selenium (as selenomethionine), 500 mg of vitamin C, 1000 IU of vitamin D3, and 10 mg of zinc.

These ingredients work synergistically to defend your body from oxidative damage and regulate your immune system. It’s a supplement you can take year-round or when you need extra support during winter.

California Gold products are third-party tested and made in a cGMP-certified facility.

8) Jarrow Formulas Selenium Synergy

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Jarrow Formulas’ Selenium Synergy is a potent antioxidant formula that supports healthy immune function, detoxification, and hormone balance. 

It brings together 200 mcg of selenium (as methylselenocysteine), 10 mg glucoraphanin from broccoli seed extract, 2 mg vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and 20 mg vitamin E. 

A bottle contains 60 capsules – but they’re not vegan-friendly. The product is also non-GMO and gluten-free and excludes common allergens like wheat, soybeans, dairy, and nuts.

9) NOW Foods Selenium

 

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NOW Selenium is a yeast-free and non-GMO supplement, providing highly absorbable L-selenomethionine at a great price.

It comes in 100 mcg tablets or 200 mcg vegetable capsules. You choose between bottles of 100, 180, or 250 servings.

NOW Foods has been around for decades, and they exceed the standards set for cGMP by the FDA. Plus, their facilities are certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a third-party testing organization.

10) Pure Encapsulations Selenium

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Pure Encapsulations Selenium is simple but powerful. It offers 200 mcg of selenomethionine per serving and comes in either 60 or 180 capsules. This works out to 18-20 cents per serving! It’s vegan-friendly, non-GMO, and certified gluten-free.

Healthcare practitioners love Pure Encapsulations due to their strict quality standards and bioavailable formulas.

11) Nature’s Way Selenium

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Nature’s Way Selenium provides 200 mcg of yeast-free selenomethionine per capsule.

Nature’s Way has been making quality nutritional supplements for over 50 years. They are also eco-conscious, using 97% post-consumer recycled materials to make each bottle.

12) Kaged Multivitamin (Best Multivitamin with Selenium)

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If you’re looking for a well-balanced and well-rounded multivitamin formula that contains selenium, Kaged Multivitamin is a great choice from a top-tier supplement brand.

It contains 21 essential vitamins and minerals sourced from organic fruits and vegetables. This includes 55 mcg of selenium from shiitake mushrooms and sunflower seeds.

Being a whole-food multivitamin, the nutrients in this product are easy to digest and absorb. 

On top of that, Kaged Multivitamin contains prebiotic fiber from aloe vera, which supports digestive health and helps you absorb more nutrition from your diet and supplements.

How We Ranked the Best Selenium Supplements

We chose what we believe are the best selenium products on the market, but you need to make the best decision for your needs.

Here’s how we ranked these products.

Strict Testing Standards

The FDA doesn’t regulate the supplement industry. This gives dodgy companies free rein to make false claims on their supplement labels.

You must buy selenium from a trusted brand because high levels of selenium are dangerous for your health.

We only chose companies that are cGMP-certified and third-party tested to evaluate the purity, dose, and quality. 

Plus, we boost companies that make their test results public.

Bioavailability

Most of the supplements on the list contain organic selenium, known as selenomethionine. It has a significantly higher absorption rate compared to other forms.

We also prioritized supplements using enhanced delivery mechanisms – like Codeage Liposomal Selenium, Upgraded Formulas Selenium, and Trace Minerals Ionic selenium drops.

Dose

Selenium is a trace mineral, so your body only needs small amounts to function well.

Most studies used between 100-300 mcg of selenium daily. The products on this list give you a therapeutic dose while still being safe.

Value

Selenium supplements don’t have to break the bank. We chose high-quality supplements that are also affordable.

What is Selenium?

Selenium is an essential trace mineral, which, in this context, means selenium must be consumed daily via diet or nutritional supplements.

Selenium is a “Goldilocks” nutrient – you need your levels to be just right. Too much or too little selenium can be disastrous for health.

Do I Really Need a Selenium Supplement?

Selenium is in many common foods. Brazil nuts are probably the most well-known source of selenium, but you can also get it from eggs, fish, organ meats, brown rice, and Brewer’s yeast.

So, why the heck do you need a supplement?

Well, many people don’t, so I’m not suggesting everyone should take a supplement.

That said, in many areas of the world, selenium levels in the soil are dismally low due to over-farming.

Some people also struggle to maintain healthy selenium levels. This includes people on restrictive diets (hello vegans), HIV-positive people, people with kidney disease, and those with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Certain medications – like steroids, antacid medication, and birth control pills – may deplete your selenium levels.

Even a mild selenium deficiency can play havoc with your well-being. But whether you’ll benefit from a supplement depends on your diet, lifestyle, and health history.

Health Benefits of Selenium

Overall, you need selenium to make antioxidant selenoproteins. One of these selenoproteins is glutathione peroxidase, the body’s “master antioxidant” (we’ve also written about glutathione). Each glutathione molecule requires four selenocysteine molecules.

In short, your body needs selenium to defend your cells from free radicals and keep your metabolism functioning smoothly.

Let’s explore more about the benefits of selenium.

Supports Thyroid Function

Selenium is a super nutrient when it comes to thyroid function.

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the throat that produces hormones that control your metabolism. If your body is a steam train, your thyroid is the furnace.

The thyroid contains more selenium than any other gland or organ in the body. Its antioxidant properties protect the thyroid gland from oxidative damage. It also regulates thyroid hormones, so low selenium levels may cause thyroid conditions.

This study found selenium normalized antibody levels and quality of life in those with Hashimoto’s disease (a chronic autoimmune thyroid condition). It may also reduce postpartum thyroiditis.

May Improve Cardiovascular Health

Studies have shown selenium may promote heart health. This is likely due to selenium’s antioxidant properties.

This study found that 100-300 mcg (that’s micrograms) of selenium daily improved cholesterol levels. It may also reduce the risk of a heart attack.

However, a conflicting study found that selenium reduced inflammation but didn’t have other heart health benefits. This suggests the benefits are more pronounced in selenium-deficient people.

May Support Fertility

Adequate selenium levels are essential for optimal fertility in men and women. This mineral is present in high levels in both the ovary and testes – it improves sperm count and motility and egg quality.

Low selenium levels may lead to both poor semen quality in men and low pregnancy rates in women.

If you and your partner want to conceive, focusing on getting enough selenium via diet and supplementation may make the journey easier.

May Have Anti-Cancer Properties

Some studies have found higher selenium levels are associated with a lower incidence of cancer – particularly breast, prostate, lung, esophageal, and gastric cancers.

However, other studies have found no significant link between selenium and cancer outcomes.

Overall, the evidence for selenium preventing and treating cancer isn’t strong enough to make any claims.

FAQs

Does Selenium Support Detoxification?

Selenium plays a vital (but indirect) role in detoxification. As mentioned, selenium is needed to form the selenoprotein glutathione. And glutathione neutralizes toxins during phase II liver detoxification.

This study found that 100 mcg of selenium daily over three months improved mercury excretion in people with years of environmental mercury exposure.

Can Selenium Improve My Mood?

This study found taking 100 mcg of selenium daily improved mood and anxiety levels. However, the study was small, so the jury is still out until we have newer, more detailed studies.

Does Selenium Slow Aging?

Anecdotally, getting adequate selenium is one of the keys to healthy aging, glowing skin, and strong hair and nails.

Selenium’s role as an antioxidant may help mitigate oxidative stress, one of the factors involved in aging. Plus, it supports healthy thyroid function and metabolism, important for aging gracefully.

However, no definitive evidence shows selenium slows the aging process overall.

Does Selenium Reduce Hair Loss?

Selenium is associated with healthier hair and may reduce hair loss in some people. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact mechanism of action, but experts believe it may reduce oxidative damage to the hair follicles and support healthy thyroid function and metabolism.

The thyroid gland produces hormones that play a role in promoting hair growth and reducing hair fall. If you’ve experienced a thyroid condition, you know hair loss is a major symptom.

That said, we need more data on selenium and hair loss.

How Do I Know If I Need a Selenium Supplement?

Some symptoms of low selenium may include:

• Poor immunity
• Muscle weakness
• Hair loss
• Difficulty focusing
• Infertility

However, these symptoms can also be associated with other health issues.

Low selenium levels may result from a diet low in selenium-rich foods, impaired absorption, dialysis, and possibly the long-term use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids.

It’s best to check with a doctor if you suspect a deficiency. They can check your levels using a blood test or hair mineral analysis.

What is the Recommended Dose for Selenium?

The daily value (DV) for selenium for people over 14 years is 55 mcg. This jumps to 60 mcg for pregnant women and 70 mcg for lactating women.

However, I have beef with the DV. It’s the bare minimum you need to avoid deficiency. So, for optimal health, you probably need more.

The tolerable upper limit (UL) for adults is around 400 mcg, which seems safe for most people.

How Long Does It Take to Correct a Selenium Deficiency?

With supplementation, improvements may happen in a few weeks, but it depends on the extent of the deficiency.

What Is the Best Type of Selenium Supplement to Take?

There are two forms of selenium:

• Organic selenium, consisting of selenomethionine and selenocysteine.
• Inorganic selenium, consisting of selenium selenate and selenite.

While both forms are good sources of selenium, organic sources like selenomethionine are the most well-absorbed by the body. On the other hand, sodium selenite or selenate are more affordable, although they are not as well absorbed.

We’ve tried to incorporate a variety of options for different budgets, although we prioritize organic forms of selenium on our list.

Is It Safe to Take Selenium Supplements Every Day?

For most people, taking selenium daily within the recommended dietary allowances is safe.

The upper intake level for adults is 400 micrograms per day. Going beyond this limit could lead to selenium toxicity, which has its own set of health risks.

What Blocks Selenium Absorption?

Certain dietary factors can inhibit selenium absorption, such as high levels of phytates found in legumes and cereals, heavy metals, and competing minerals like zinc and cadmium.

Can I Take Too Much Selenium? Are There Any Side Effects?

Consuming selenium supplements at safe doses is well-tolerated. However, too much selenium can become toxic.

Although rare, selenium toxicity – known as selenosis – may cause:

• Garlic breath
• A metallic taste in the mouth
• Brittle hair and nails
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Muscle tenderness
• Tremors
• Lightheadedness

Speak to your doctor before taking a selenium supplement, and always stick to the recommended daily dose.

If you choose to take a selenium supplement, picking one from the list above ensures you get a quality product.

Why Don’t I Just Take a Multivitamin?

A multivitamin will give you lots of vitamins and minerals, but many of them you may not need, and you can’t guarantee a high bioavailability. However, a quality multi can help you cover your nutritional gaps. Check out this article on the best vegan multivitamins.

Disclaimer: Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any dietary supplement, including selenium.