Selenium - what dose and type please?

I keep reading that selenium is a good supplement so what's the optimum dose, should it have added zinc, are all makes equal?

Thanks!

[shambles]

This is a pretty good link from Stop The Thyroid Madness:-

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

I've just started taking them this week but mostly because I have TED. 200mcg with vitamins A,C & E.

I'm don't think you should stay on it for more than 6 months.

[Hidden in reply to shambles]

Thanks, my PC doesn't like that website but got there eventually.

[tegz]

If you do take Zinc- make sure it has added copper as it is depleted by Zinc.15mg Zinc is a normal supplement but more can be useful in adrenal insufficiency, I've read -but I wouldn't go at it for ever.

The body can get lazy with over supplementation!

Copper is also involved in T3 production, an interesting snippet I learned lately!

My understanding is that Se is best gained from natural sources and there's enough in 2 brazil nuts to keep you topped up daily..

As in all these issues- it's best to start low and go on how you feel ovwer the weeks - and don't forget to dicuss with your GP esp. if on other meds for any reason. They can be affected up or down by additional inputs of vits/mins.

If you sound convinced and determined- you will hopefully be listened to.

On vits quality the more you pay ,the easier to absorb usually, but unless you have a known problem on this just go for a reliable manufacturer and read up a bit.

[Hidden in reply to tegz]

Thanks for that info. Not sure I need zinc, just seems that it's an option. I would rather eat brazil nuts but the thinking is that they need to be from a selenium-rich soil otherwise waste of time. I guess Soil Association organic nuts if I can find them.

Do you have a link re copper and T3 please?

Don't go near GPs, they know nothing!!

[tegz]

Sorry- I saw so many links recently- I've copped out trying to track everything. It was a good source though and no reason for doubting it.Have a search to get own view..

This is early in, giving drift -

healthboards.com/boards/thy... and this other one says T4 is copper dependent paleohacks.com/questions/15....

Without blood checks it's safest not to overdo supplemental minerals -though most are magnesium deficient on modern diets, for example. I supplemented Mg Citrate it for a year [with GPs knowledge] and was still scraping along on the bottom limit in a recent test!!

Zinc is needed by men in particular for sexual performance.

Oysters are renowned for this reason- being chock full of the element!

[Zabby]

I took 350mcg, which is within the 400mcg that I read was completely safe to take without testing (300mcg selenium supplement plus 50mcg in my multivitamin). Unfortunately, when I happened to get my blood tested - not deliberately to check the selenium levels, just to check other things - I had very high red cell selenium and high plasma selenium. After a couple of months of stopping the selenium supplement but still taking the multi most days, the plasma was almost normal and the red cell had dropped, and when I tested again a few weeks later the plasma was normal and red cell almost normal. I wasn't using a medicated shampoo containing selenium or eating any foods that were high in it. I think I must be weird for some reason, and I definitely think that people with thyroid problems should take it, but I would recommend getting a test done after a few months just to check that your blood levels are normal.