Timing Protocol
What researchers say about when, how and with what to take selenium, and how strong the evidence is.
The verdict on Selenium overall
Leaning for
Selenium supplements are worth taking.
3 sources: 1 positive, 2 partly
Short answer
Take it with food for better absorption. It can go with other thyroid nutrients (iodine, zinc, vitamin D).
One verdict, worked out from every counted mention. One dot is one source: a researcher or a study. Tap a dot to see its receipt.
positive partly neutral negative Each researcher and each study counts once per claim, however often they come up.
Taking selenium with food improves its absorption.
2 sources: 2 negative. Fewer than 3 sources so far.
Researchers say
No researcher counted yet.
Studies show
2 negative
2 papers we read
Other primary study, J Trace Elem Electrolytes Health Dis, 1987, PMID 2856562
Negative Study
Read the paper on PubMed →Based on the rate of turnover of the radionuclides and the urinary losses of 75Se, the absorption of selenium, zinc and manganese from the supplement was estimated to be 89 +/- 5%, 38 +/- 7%, 9 +/- 3% (mean +/- SD) in the fasting state and 87 +/- 4%, 10 +/- 2% and 2 +/- 1% with food.
Other primary study, N Z Med J, 1985, PMID 3861972
Negative Study
Read the paper on PubMed →The light meal appeared to have little effect on selenite-Se absorption, and orange juice appeared even to assist it.
Other primary study, J Trace Elem Electrolytes Health Dis, 1987, PMID 2856562 Study · negative
Based on the rate of turnover of the radionuclides and the urinary losses of 75Se, the absorption of selenium, zinc and manganese from the supplement was estimated to be 89 +/- 5%, 38 +/- 7%, 9 +/- 3% (mean +/- SD) in the fasting state and 87 +/- 4%, 10 +/- 2% and 2 +/- 1% with food.
Other primary study, N Z Med J, 1985, PMID 3861972 Study · negative
The light meal appeared to have little effect on selenite-Se absorption, and orange juice appeared even to assist it.
Built from every credited researcher and cited study on each claim.
Selenium supplements are worth taking.
Mark Hyman, 3 mentions on this claim
Positive Video
on The Dr. Hyman Show, at 19:29 · positive
“which are way more powerful so taking the selenium helps boost that”
on The Dr. Hyman Show, at 13:35 · positive
“taking the selenium helps boost that”
on The Dr. Hyman Show, at 22:52 · partly
“many soils are depleted in selenium if we're not taking a multivitamin selenium we often low”
George Papanicolaou, on The Dr. Hyman Show, at 01:33
Partly Video · Opinion
Open the tape at 01:33 →“these are these are common bna all support good healthy thyroid and if you're if you're low in any of those”
Andrew Huberman, 2 mentions on this claim
Partly Video
on Huberman Lab, at 17:54 · partly
“Simple way to do that is to ingest the highest concentration of selenium food that I'm aware of, which is Brazil nuts”
on Huberman Lab, at 05:41 · partly
“most people aren't getting enough selenium because they don't eat foods that are high in selenium”
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You know when to take Selenium. A free account opens the interaction warnings for your whole stack. Pro adds chat about your own situation, drawn from 3,700+ hours of recorded interviews with 380 researchers and doctors, plus 48,500+ research studies.
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