| Used for
| Amount | Why |
|---|
Asthma | 100 mcg daily |  [2 stars] Asthma involves free-radical damage that selenium might protect against. In one trial, supplementing with sodium selenite (a form of selenium) improved symptoms in some patients. |
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Atherosclerosis | 100 mcg daily | [2 stars] Some doctors recommend that people with atherosclerosis supplement with selenium, which has been shown in one study to help reduce the risk of death from heart disease. |
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Colon Cancer | 200 mcg daily | [2 stars] Selenium appears to protect against a variety of cancers, including colon cancer. |
|
Depression | 100 mcg per day
| [2 stars] Selenium deficiency may contribute to depression. Taking selenium can counteract this deficiency and improve depression symptoms. |
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Dermatitis Herpetiformis | 200 mcg daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with selenium and vitamin E has been shown to correct an antioxidant deficiency common in DH. |
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Edema | 230 mcg daily | [2 stars] People with lymphedema of the arm or head-and-neck region who were treated with selenium saw an improvement in quality of life and edema symptoms in one study. |
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Heart Attack | 100 to 200 mcg daily | [2 stars] Some doctors recommend that people at risk for a heart attack supplement with selenium. |
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HIV and AIDS Support | Take under medical supervision: 400 mcg daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with selenium may result in fewer infections, a healthier appetite, and other benefits. |
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Immune Function | 100 mcg daily with 20 mg zinc daily | [2 stars] Selenium supplements have been reported to help improve immune function in seniors.
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Infection | 100 mcg per day with 20 mg per day of zinc | [2 stars] Selenium supplements have been reported to help reduce infections in elderly people. |
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Lung Cancer | 200 mcg daily | [2 stars] Selenium, reported to have diverse anticancer actions, has been shown in one study to reduce lung cancer incidence. |
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Male Infertility | 100 mcg daily | [2 stars] In a study of infertile men with reduced sperm motility, supplementing with selenium significantly increased sperm motility. |
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Osgood-Schlatter Disease | 150 mcg a day with 400 IU a day of vitamin E | [2 stars] Taking a combination of vitamin E and selenium may help the healing. |
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Pancreatic Insufficiency | 600 mcg, taken under the supervision of a doctor | [2 stars] Taking antioxidant supplements, such as selenium, may lessen pain and prevent pancreatitis recurrences. |
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Phenylketonuria | Adolescents and adults: 55 mcg daily; for infants and children: 15 to 40 mcg daily, according to age | [2 stars] Selenium deficiency may develop on the PKU diet, and supplementation may help correct this. |
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Prostate Cancer | 200 mcg daily | [2 stars] Selenium has been reported to have diverse anticancer actions. Supplementing with this mineral may decrease your prostate cancer risk. |
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Rheumatoid Arthritis | 200 mcg daily | [2 stars] People with rheumatoid arthritis have been found to have lower selenium levels than healthy people. Supplementing with selenium may reduce pain and joint inflammation. |
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Abnormal Pap Smear | Refer to label instructions
|  [1 star] Low levels of selenium have been observed in women with cervical dysplasia. |
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Asthma
(Vitamin C, Vitamin E) | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] There is some evidence that a combination of antioxidants vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium may help prevent asthma thought to be caused by air pollution. |
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Cardiac Arrhythmia | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Supplementing with selenium may improve many arrhythmias.
|
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Cardiomyopathy and Keshan's Cardiomyopathy | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Supplementing with selenium can correct selenium deficiency, which is believed to be a cause of Keshan’s disease, a form of cardiomyopathy found in China. |
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Childhood Diseases | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Supplementing with selenium, an antioxidant mineral, supports a healthy immune system and has been found to prevent viral infections. |
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Down’s Syndrome | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] People with Down’s syndrome may be deficient in selenium. A preliminary study found that antioxidant activity in the body improved when children with Down’s syndrome took selenium. |
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Halitosis and Gum Disease | Spray a lotion containing 3.7% citronella in a slow-release formula every morning for six days per week | [1 star] Selenium is often recommended by doctors to help prevent and treat periodontitis. |
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Hepatitis | 100 mg per | [1 star] In one trial, a combination of alpha lipoic acid, silymarin, and selenium led to significant improvements in liver function and overall health in people with hepatitis C. |
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High Cholesterol | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] A double-blind trial found that, in people with moderately elevated cholesterol levels, supplementing with selenium in the form of high-selenium yeast resulted in a small but statistically significant decrease in serum cholesterol. |
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Hypothyroidism | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Selenium plays a role in thyroid hormone metabolism. People who are deficient in selenium may benefit from supplementation. |
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Liver Cirrhosis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] People with liver cirrhosis often have low selenium levels and a greater need for antioxidants. In one study, selenium improved liver function in people with alcoholic cirrhosis. |
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Macular Degeneration | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Sunlight triggers oxidative damage in the eye, which can cause macular degeneration. Selenium protects against oxidative damage and may reduce macular degeneration risk. |
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Pre- and Post-Surgery Health | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Selenium has an important role in immune function and infection prevention, and supplementing with it may correct a postoperative selenium deficiency. |
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Seborrheic Dermatitis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin B12 injections have been reported to improve adult seborrheic dermatitis. |
Type 1 Diabetes
(Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E) | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] A combination of the antioxidants selenium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E has been shown to improve diabetic retinopathy. |
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Type 1 Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy
(Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E) | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Antioxidant nutrients including selenium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E may combat free radicals associated with diabetic retinopathy. |
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