Signs of Selenium Toxicity: Only Take THIS Much

The list of warning signs and symptoms of selenium toxicity. Are you taking too much selenium? Here's how to find out:

Selenium is a very important micronutrient for your body. It is included in certain proteins, called selenoproteins, that enable your cells to function properly, reduce inflammation, and produce antioxidants.

Many people suffer from selenium deficiency which leads them to use selenium supplements.

That's all good but what happens when they take too much? They may end up with minor signs of selenium toxicity. True selenium toxicity is rare, but a slight amount of selenium toxicity isn't uncommon and can occur if you accidentally take too much selenium in your supplements!

This is often a problem for patients with thyroid disease because they know that using selenium can help reduce thyroid gland inflammation.

Minor symptoms of selenium toxicity include:
- Hair loss
- Brittle nails
- Fatigue
- GI problems
- Joint pain
- Nausea

These are more common than the serious symptoms but let's include the more serious symptoms as well:
- Neurological problems
- Paralysis
- Selenosis (selenium poisoning)

So, how much selenium should you take?
The RDA for selenium is around 40-55mcg per day.
My recommendation is 100-200mcg per day.
Some doctors recommend 400-600mcg per day (probably only good for a short period of time and to treat very specific conditions).

The best way to avoid selenium toxicity is to do 2 important things:

#1. Check your supplements for selenium!
See if you are accidentally taking too much using the guidelines above.
#2. Pay attention to how much selenium you are getting from food (organic versions have more nutrients)
Food sources high in selenium include: Brazil nuts, fish, ham, pork, beef, chicken, eggs, brown rice, oatmeal, spinach, bananas,

But note that nutrients vary based on where plants were grown/harvested and whether or not they are organic.

Do you have any of the signs of selenium toxicity? Let me know!

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Disclaimer:

This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to your medications or health regimens without first consulting a physician. If you have any questions please consult with your current primary care provider. Restart Medical LLC and Dr. Westin Childs are not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this website or video.
#thyroid #hypothyroidism #hashimoto's

[carolynjones]

Some Urogynaecological meshes/slings can also cause toxic levels of selenium and can cause severe neurological symptoms. I have been eating foods high in selenium and have the kind of mesh that has toxic levels of selenium and as a result II now suffer with neurological and gastro symptoms and other symptoms of toxicity, I thought I would mention this because many women with mesh and neurological symptoms also might have this and not know that this could be a possibility. I was told that most of the time, blood tests can't always pick up toxicity once it enters the brain.

[tessafrith]

Hi Dr Childs, I love your videos thank you! However, I had Hurthle cell carcinoma and had to have a thyroidectomy and would be very grateful if you were to make videos about those of us who no longer have a thyroid. Tess

[rdmbkct]

Thanks for this video, very informative. I regularly eat lots of egg, brown rice, spinach, oatmeal, salmon, and shrimp. Coincidentally and unknowingly, I began eating 2 Brazil nuts and spirulina. Well, I think this was what drove my intake of selenium to excess. I began having thyroid ache, fatigue, and hair loss. In the past I had thyroid issues, even though the blood test said I was fine. By reading books on the subject, I decided to take iodine and I read that selenium protects the thyroid whenever you take iodine. Long story short, I became much better in the past, but now I messed up my thyroid again. Here is another information I found online, whether it is true or not I don’t know: “If there is a selenium deficiency and attempts are made to supplement with iodine, the iodine will exacerbate the selenium deficiency causing it to worsen as well. In fact, anytime one is high and the other is low, symptoms will occur and often times get worse. If there is a deficiency, both must be supplemented and kept low.”

[michaeldowdy]

Purchasing selenium in the right dose is difficult. What is on the market is too strong of a dose. The problem is the manufacturers. 50 micrograms should be plenty.

[maryagendron]

selenium lowers copper and iodine also needed for thyroid function. If you take iodine or copper without selenium it causes problems, if you have too much selenium it tanks your copper and iodine. Having too much iodine and too little selenium and copper can also cause goiter.

[jleight]

I straight up poisoned myself with selenium. I did realize what I was doing! Being carnivore for over a year i was taking 5-6 times the amount and for two months I have had the ladder symptoms! Thank you for confirming this!!

[lollyb]

I just found out i have selenium toxicity, i thought i was having hypothyroidism symptoms but it was toxicity. I had nausea, hair loss, fatigue, brain fog, itchy skin and heart palpations. I was only taking 100mcg a day but was eating brazil nuts everyday as well.

[Vivldi]

Memo: dont mix food sources (brazil nuts) with selenium supplementation, be careful

[kerino]

Really good info. Thank you Dr. Childs!!!

[keynadarling]

Great video Dr. Childs!!! Dr. Childs, would you be willing to do a video on your Leptin Resistance and also a video on Metformin?

[dolarrius]

Can you take iodine and selenium together?

[maxkang]

how long after taking selenium should you take iodine?(minutes/hours)?

[rcayers]

As with many vitamins & minerals, the factor that determines tolerance is based on the patint's weight & age & gender. There has to be a scientific research based table that shows safe tolerance, minimum & max recommended the 3 factors above.

[kesha]

@Dr Child’s, I have been having joint pain in my fingers, I noticed that my muscles have been hurting in my thighs and stomach pain and upset. The first two are new and made me wonder what’s going on with me. My serum selenium level is 300 for lab results that indicates it’s high. Is there anything I need to do? I stopped supplementing with selenium a while before the lab yes. Thanks for your help.

[juliantreidiii]

My Ex had a faulty coffee pot and she got a selenium overdose. It was bad. She could not walk for a week. It had a selenium Solder.

[yuyanmalez]

thank you! been wondering wether my selenium intake is appropriate

[wendyvg]

I love your talks! They are always super informative! However, please consider how the speed with which you talk tends to go up throughout the first couple of minutes and then stays up. The way you start out the talks in the beginning is great! But after a while you tend to go so fast that you' re almost making me a little nervous ;-). So maybe you want to try to pace a little more. But keep up the great talks!

[Libradebrief]

This helped a ton. You answered so many questions I had.

[Vivldi]

Its so weired, the side effects of too much selenium kind of sound like the symptoms of iodine or selenium deficiency

[mamamoore]

I ate Brazil nuts and more than two a day. For over a month and my nails were splitting and hair was falling also bumps are forming in my face. Stop eating them now for over a month, but my hair and nails and face are still the same.
What can I do to stop it for om happening