selenium supplement: I have just purchased... - Thyroid UK

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selenium supplement

Peony88 profile image
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I have just purchased Biocare 100mcg selenium supplement to assist in conversion of T4 to T3. I take my Levothyroxine in the morning, how soon after can I take the selenium supplement? It would also be nice to know if anyone is getting good results with a particular brand of selenium and what dosage.

Thanks for your help.

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Peony88
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Clutter profile image
Clutter

Peony88, Take selenium at least 2 hours away from Levothyroxine.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

Peony88 profile image
Peony88 in reply toClutter

Clutter, thank you.

Em_Lou profile image
Em_Lou in reply toClutter

Oh really... I've been taking selenium in the morning at the same time as my thyroid meds as recommended by izabella wentz for a few months now. Any particular reason you suggest taking 2hrs apart. There's a lot of conflicting info on the net :( . My does is extremely low already my endo consultant said I'm taking a 'placebo' dose and to up my medication so knowing selenium may reduce absorbtion (my assumption re. Your comment) is slightly

worrying. Any responses would be appreciated. Thanks.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toEm_Lou

Are you sure that she recommends taking selenium at the same time as thyroid meds?

Doesn't read like that here:

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Em_Lou profile image
Em_Lou in reply tohelvella

Hi, in her book she does. I have just taken a picture..is there way to post it on the forum?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toEm_Lou

Only on a new post. Or as a link.

Em_Lou profile image
Em_Lou in reply tohelvella

Thank you, here is the extract

<a href="tinypic.com?ref=2lc4hw1" target="_blank"><img src="i66.tinypic.com/2lc4hw1.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

If you click should take you to image.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toEm_Lou

The problem is that so many things interfere with thyroid hormone. Therefore the only sensible blanket advice is to keep them separate from other medicines and supplements and food and drink! I doubt there is any decent research on the interaction between selenium supplements and thyroid hormone tablets.

Am surprised to see what she says!

Em_Lou profile image
Em_Lou in reply tohelvella

Thank you, glad you could see the extract, was starting to think I misinterpreted what she wrote in her book. On her website she states take with vitamin e, as per her book too, but no mention in the link about taking with levothyroxine. Will alter the way I take selenium and see if there are any improvements. Thanks ☺

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply toEm_Lou

Em_Lou, Levothyroxine can bind with the proteins in food, drink, medication and supplements considerably reducing absorption and uptake.

For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach 1 hour before, or 2 hours after food and drink, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements, and 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D and oestrogen.

_______________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

Em_Lou profile image
Em_Lou in reply toClutter

Hi Clutter, i do take an hour before food but been taking with selenium FAITHFULLY for the last few months. Feel a bit silly now. Wonder if this is the cause to some newer issues (low testosterone, no libido) currently waiting for adrenal fasting test (being taken Saturday ). *sigh*.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply toEm_Lou

Em_Lou, the only issue caused by taking selenium and Levothyroxine together at the same time will be lack of absorption of Levothyroxine. Adrenal issues and low testosterone may be due to pituitary dysfunction.

_______________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

Em_Lou profile image
Em_Lou in reply toClutter

OK, that's good to know. Will alter the way I take selenium. I really need to come on the forum more often!!! So much useful advice and knowledge. Thank you again :)

Peony88 profile image
Peony88 in reply toEm_Lou

Em-Lou,

Hi there, I was just wondering how you are getting along with the selenium supplementation. Are you still taking it with your thyroid meds or 2 hour apart?  I am thinking about when to take selenium from my thyroid T4 medication. I came across this link where Izabella Wentz recommends taking thyroid medication first and 30 minutes later take the selenium supplement and 30 minutes later have breakfast.  Read the interview here is the link

naturalendocrinesolutions.c...

I understand you have read in her book she states to take with thyroid meds but in the interview she states differently. Its all very confusing.

May be we should be safe and just take it two hours apart from the thyroid medication.

 

Peony,

Selenium is essential in T4-T3 thyroid hormone conversion as the deiodinase enzymes

(enzymes that remove iodine atoms from T4 ) are selenium-dependent. I supplement 100mcg a day of selenium.

Be aware high levels of selenium are toxic.

Flower

Selenium and the Thyroid

chriskresser.com/selenium-t...

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….........................

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..........................

brfran profile image
brfran

I'm munching a few Brazil nuts with my breakfast, they go rather well with coffee.

LAHs profile image
LAHs in reply tobrfran

Brfran, you forget to mention why you are eating Brazil nuts. People new to Selenium do not know that you can get it from Brazil nuts. Brazil nuts have an amazing amount of Selenium in them so only eat about 2 per day. I increase it to 3 is I've had them a long time. Only 2 or 3 because you can get an overload of Se and it will be toxic.

brfran profile image
brfran in reply toLAHs

Well, i did post that as a reply in a thread on selenium supplements. So i didn't actually 'forget' to mention why i was eating Brazil nuts. I just thought it was rather obvious why......

Oh, and yes, the amount of selenium is very high, but somewhat dependent on where the nuts were grown. And yes, it's possible to overdose on quite a few minerals or vitamins, but let's not get paranoid about a few nuts.

LAHs profile image
LAHs

Brfran: Posts do not always follow on from the post you are replying to if there is more than one reply, that's why I read it out of context and so felt it needed a bit of clarity. Yes, it was obvious to me but not to a newcomer.

You are right that the content of the Se in the nut will depend upon where the tree was grown. Actually it is the quality of the soil which is the determining factor and fortunately (or unfortunately) the tree which bears the Brazil nut only grows in the tropical rail forest belt and esp. the Brazilian rain forest.

And lastly in the case of Brazil nuts you have to think beyond "a few" and keep it to about two per day, why? because 100g of Brazil nuts contains 1917 mcg of Selenium that is 3485% of a daily recommend intake, repeat 3485% of a daily recommendation! That boils down to 2 nuts per day for your recommended daily intake of Selenium. No I am not espousing paranoia just be careful sometimes.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toLAHs

A broadly similar nut, the paradise nut, is most definitely something to be careful with.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecyt...

LAHs profile image
LAHs

Yikes, excess selenium linked to hair loss. You can't win can you. I wonder if I should drop that to one Brazil nut per day?

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