Selenium Cautions
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General warnings and precautions
Selenium, especially in the form Selenomethionine is generally safe to take and there are no cautions with any groups of people. This is because the methionine in the selenomethionine detoxifies any of the potential toxicity of the selenium and makes it much safer to take than just plain selenium with another susbtance.
Toxic Levels of Selenium
Selenium is toxic at doses greater than 2000mcg (or 2mg).
Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms - Acute<
Acute toxicity of selenium occurs when far too much selenium from supplements are taken - over 2,000mcg.
- Arthritis
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Garlic-smelling breath or body odour
- Hair loss
- Irritability
- Nausea
Selenium, especially in the form Selenomethionine is generally safe to take and there are no cautions with any groups of people
Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms - Chronic
Chronic toxicity of selenium from taking higher than the therapeutic dose of selenium supplements (more than 400mcg) for a long time can cause the following symptoms:
- Brittle fingernails
- Diarrhoea
- Fatigue
- Garlic odour breath
- Irritated eyes
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Mottled teeth
- Skin dermatitis
- Tingling sensation in hands and feet
- Weakness
- Yellow skin
People experiencing any of the above toxicity symptoms should discontinue their selenium supplements and seek medical advice. Overdosage and toxicity is more likely to occur from taking too many supplements, whereas dietary intake of selenium is highly unlikely to cause overdosage.