Zinc and Selenium balance

[Sooty101]

Hi All, just wondering how much zinc and selenium I should supplement to help with T4 to T3 conversion.. and can anyone recommend a gentle iron that won't make me constipated.? B12 levels are fine.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

For selenium, we only need a small amount - at most, 70 micrograms a day. And even if our diets are low in selenium, there will be some!

Have a look here:

Selenium

Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/S...

[Sooty101 in reply to helvella]

Oh dear ..I have been taking a 200mg supplement with 22mg zinc. Yesterday I experienced severe bloating and wind , it may be that I'm taking to much.

[Sooty101 in reply to Sooty101]

Thanks for your reply Helvella.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sooty101]

Not many years ago, the supplements industry, and almost everyone who promotes their products, was shouting that we should all be taking 400 micrograms a day. (Note - that is micrograms (mcg) not milligrams (mg). )

Bear in mind, selenium toxicity can occur at not much over twice that intake -around 800 or so!

And as I understand, it is reasonable to take selenium every other day. That can allow use of a higher dosage formulation but less frequently. Though I have no evidence that you can sensibly and usefully extend that to, say, once a week!

[Houdini415]

hello Sooty101. I am quite new to this and also started on 200 mcg per day selenium but then read that you should not supplement with more than 100 mcg per day so I take a 200 every 2nd day now. I only take zinc which is included in my D3 vit so it's not much, equates to 4mg per day. I also take B complex and B12. I can't comment on how it's going yet I'm afraid ecause I am waiting 6 months now before retesting. However, I feel better than I have ever felt over the past 23 years since being zapped with 2 x doses of RAI treatment. My T4 is high but T3 in range so I am hoping T4 to T3 conversion is better when I retest. I do feel like it will be. Hope you get it sorted.