6 Ways Selenium Benefits Thyroid Function (+ How Much To Use)

6 Ways Selenium Benefits Thyroid Function (+ How Much To Use)

Selenium Deficiency & Thyroid Problems

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Selenium is up there with iodine and zinc in terms of how important it is for your thyroid gland. 

What happens if you don’t have enough selenium in your body?

For starters, it increases your risk of developing autoimmune disease (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), may increase inflammation in your entire body and in your thyroid gland, and it reduces your ability to fight off oxidative stress. 

Put another way, not having enough selenium increases your risk of developing several thyroid conditions

When you add this information to the fact that your body cannot produce selenium on its own and that deficiency is quite common, we have a confluence of events that set people up for developing serious thyroid issues. 

All hope is not lost, though!

Why?

Because it’s actually fairly easy to supplement with selenium (provided you are using the right dose) and to replace low levels in your body. 

Today we are going to talk about just that. You’ll learn:

Let’s jump in…

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#1. Selenium ENHANCES T4 to T3 Conversion. 

Without getting too technical, you should understand in a basic sense, how selenium works in the body. 

Your body has certain enzymes which catalyze very important and specific reactions. 

These enzymes (selenoproteins (1)) require certain ingredients to make them work properly and efficiently. 

Selenium happens to be one of those ingredients and it makes these reactions work the way that they are supposed to. 

If you don’t have enough selenium in the body then these reactions will occur but they will occur at an impaired rate (they won’t work very well). 

One of these enzymes is incredibly important to thyroid function because it helps your body convert T4 into T3

T4 to T3 conversion is one of the most important aspects of thyroid function because without enough T3 thyroid hormone you will feel the symptoms of low thyroid

Low selenium states REDUCE how well your body converts T4 into T3 and, therefore, T3 levels. 

This may result in low T3 levels in thyroid patients both on and off thyroid medication. 

It may also prevent the activation of thyroid medications such as levothyroxine and Synthroid

In states of low selenium, your body will still be able to create SOME T3 but it won’t be enough selenium to really help you feel better. 

Taking a thyroid supplement that contains selenium is one way to improve this process and help your body convert more T4 into T3. 

Selenium is one of a handful of other ingredients (zinc is included in here as well) that help this thyroid conversion process. 

#2. Selenium May Help REDUCE Thyroid Antibodies. 

Another huge benefit is that the use of selenium has been shown to help reduce thyroid antibodies in cases of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. 

There have been several studies that show that the use of levothyroxine (sometimes in conjunction with levothyroxine) may help lower thyroid antibodies. 

Some studies (2) show a benefit to both thyroglobulin antibodies as well as thyroid peroxidase antibodies while others show only benefit to one over the other. 

And while this is known by doctors and scientists, they will come back with something along the lines of:

“Well, yes, SOME studies show that it works but plenty of other studies show that it doesn’t”. 

In other words, it’s a mixed bag in terms of results. 

But what I’m telling you here is that it doesn’t matter!

And here’s why:

Not only is selenium incredibly safe (if used correctly), it’s also a relatively cheap treatment. 

So even if it only has the potential to help in some percentage of people (even a small percentage of people), it’s still worth it to try for a $20-$30 supplement!

Wouldn’t you be willing to pay some money out of pocket for a treatment that is completely natural and has the potential to help your thyroid function better and naturally PREVENT damage to your thyroid gland?

I’m guessing you would, especially if you are reading this right now. 

Why aren’t the studies showing that selenium universally helps lower thyroid antibodies in everyone?

Most likely because each person with Hashimoto’s is a little bit different than the next

Some people may have a more dire need for selenium than others and so replacing selenium is more important for these people than other people with the same condition. 

But as long as taking selenium won’t hurt you and only has the potential to help then it is something that you might seriously consider. 

#3. Selenium May DECREASE Thyroid Inflammation. 

One of the ways that selenium may help reduce thyroid antibodies is through its impact on inflammation in the thyroid gland. 

It turns out that selenium is needed to help keep inflammation at a minimum in the thyroid gland. 

Through everyday life and stressors, your cells naturally produce free radicals and other products which cause stress to your cells. 

Under normal circumstances, your body cleans up these harmful byproducts BEFORE they can cause damage to your own body. 

Selenium, if present in the right amount, helps your thyroid gland produce something called glutathione (3). 

Glutathione is considered the master antioxidant and helps to clean up these free radicals to prevent damage to the thyroid gland. 

It’s been theorized, and I personally believe that this theory is accurate, that selenium deficiency reduces glutathione production, and this reduction in glutathione results in thyroid gland inflammation. 

This inflammation then causes damage to your thyroid gland which then triggers thyroid autoimmunity and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. 

This isn’t the only mechanism by which Hashimoto’s can be triggered but it is definitely a potential mechanism. 

How do you know if you have thyroid gland inflammation?

Your throat may be sore or swollen, it may be painful to swallow, and/or you may notice changes in your voice. 

Some women also tell me that their throat feels “hot”. 

Any of these symptoms may indicate inflammation directly in the thyroid and that is never something that you want. 

So remember:

Normal selenium levels help PROTECT your thyroid gland from damage and inflammation. 

If you believe you have thyroid gland inflammation then supplementing with selenium is something to seriously consider. 

#4. Selenium May Help REDUCE Total Body Inflammation. 

Thyroid gland inflammation is obviously very important to thyroid function but total body inflammation is as well. 

Total body inflammation negatively impacts thyroid function by negatively impacting T4 to T3 conversion. 

Most of this T4 to T3 conversion occurs in other cells in your body and NOT in the thyroid gland itself. 

So while thyroid gland inflammation is bad for the thyroid gland, total body inflammation is bad for thyroid function. 

Selenium, therefore, impacts thyroid conversion in two separate ways:

The first is that it helps the enzyme responsible for thyroid conversion operate. 

And the second is an indirect way by reducing inflammation. 

If you can reduce inflammation in the body then you can indirectly impact thyroid conversion in other tissues. 

#5. Selenium May Help BOOST Glutathione. 

Many of the anti-inflammatory benefits of selenium stem from its ability to produce glutathione (4). 

Glutathione helps to clean up the cells, prevent damage from free radicals, prevent damage in specific cells like your thyroid, and reduce inflammation in the entire body. 

The best way to ensure that you are getting glutathione is the all-natural way – through natural production in your cells and in your body. 

Your body will naturally produce glutathione as needed, provided that it has the right precursor ingredients (like selenium). 

It is also possible to take glutathione in a supplement form. 

Even though you can take it in supplement form, it’s often best to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to create it the all-natural way. 

Taking glutathione by mouth can work, though, and is something that can be considered for patients with thyroid disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. 

#6. Selenium Has ANTI VIRAL Properties. 

Lastly, selenium has been shown to have antiviral properties. 

Anti vital, of course, meaning that it can kill off or prevent viruses from damaging the body. 

Why would you care about this as a thyroid patient?

Well, one of the most common triggers of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the virus known as the Epstein Barr virus, or EBV for short. 

Not only can EBV trigger Hashimoto’s thyroiditis but it can also be responsible for flare-ups in Hashimoto’s patients. 

Certain infections, including both bacterial and viral, can trigger the onset of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in the body. 

These infections, specifically the viral strains, typically stay in the body for life. 

Throughout your life, it can periodically come out and wreak havoc on the body and your immune system causing thyroid problems as it does. 

Taking selenium may help to prevent or suppress this opportunistic infection from coming out and causing issues in your body. 

There are obviously other antiviral supplements and medications that can and should be taken if you have this problem but why not take advantage of a natural therapy if you can? 

Are You Taking Too Much Selenium on Accident?

Before you run out and start taking selenium for your thyroid we need to have a discussion about your dose. 

It turns out that the amount of selenium that you take is very important!

Unlike other supplements, you can relatively easily take too much selenium on accident. 

And too much selenium can actually cause a number of symptoms that mimic thyroid problems (5). 

In the case of selenium, having too little is just as bad as having too much. 

So what’s the magic number?

In my own experience, I feel that using somewhere between 75 and 150mcg of selenium per safe to be a safe dose. 

Taking less than this typically doesn’t have much benefit and taking more than this gets you into the range where you may start to experience the side effects of toxicity. 

This is the dose that I formulate my thyroid supplements with because I’ve used it with great success over the years. 

Having said that, some studies and some authorities do suggest that it’s safe to take up to 400mcg of selenium daily and that you really don’t start to see the signs of toxicity until you exceed 500 to 600mcg per day. 

Even though these higher doses may be safe for MOST people, it’s always better to get away with less if possible because most people don’t account for the amount of selenium that they consume in their diet. 

This is especially true for people who consume brazil nuts on a frequent basis. 

Brazil nuts are notoriously high in selenium and eating just a few can push you over the edge if you are already taking a higher dose of selenium. 

You’ll know if you take too much selenium because you may start to experience symptoms such as fatigue, low T3 levels, hair loss, nausea, brittle nails, and/or gut symptoms such as an upset stomach. 

Reducing your dose of selenium should help quickly to reverse these symptoms. 

Wrapping it Up

Selenium plays a very important role in regulating several different aspects of thyroid function. 

Selenium deficiency, which is quite common among thyroid patients, can lead to problems including thyroid gland inflammation, an increased risk of developing thyroid autoimmunity, and changes to your free thyroid hormone levels. 

The good news is that supplementing is relatively cheap, safe, and effective. 

If you have thyroid disease of any type, but especially those with Hashimoto’s, then considering supplementing with selenium is a great idea. 

My recommended dose of selenium is between 75 and 150mcg of selenium in the selenomethionine form taken each and every day. 

This dose provides the most benefit with the least amount of risk. 

If you are going to supplement with selenium then I would recommend using a supplement such as this one which contains selenium in addition to other ingredients that help support thyroid conversion and function. 

Now I want to hear from you:

Do you think that your selenium level is optimal?

Are you currently taking selenium?

If so, did you notice any benefits from taking selenium?

If not, are you thinking about adding selenium to your routine?

Leave your questions or comments below! 

#1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30200430/

#2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23158484/

#3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26313901/

#4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21782571/

#5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20142570/ 

how much selenium you should take for your thyroid

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About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

P.S. Here are 4 ways you can get more help right now:

#1. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here.

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#3. Sign up to receive 20% off your first order.

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41 thoughts on “6 Ways Selenium Benefits Thyroid Function (+ How Much To Use)”

  1. I find your blog extremely helpful–
    I am taking the T3 conversion booster and have also started
    taking glandular thyroid so am getting selenium from these —

    Reply
  2. I started Selenium, Milk thistle, Zinc and Lipoic Acid some time ago as a Liver cleanse. reading more about Zinc and selenium, I have kept them as a daily supplement. Zinc 30-50, Selenium 200 mg. I have been on Levothyroxine for a few months. Helps TSH and A1c, cholesterol also. My problem is a new fat gut, 34″ waist 39″ gut. this is new to me and I can’t stand it. Can’t wear any suits or dress casual. Do you think thyroid is causing this? or the med’s?

    Reply
  3. Hi, I have hypothyroidism and after some research started taking selenium. I take 100mg once(sometimes twice) a day. That plus b vitamins have helped tremendously.
    It calms me and helps me feel more grounded. I am also getting less infections and my allergies have improved some. I recommend selenium, it genuinely did help me.

    Reply
  4. I have a reminder in my calendar to eat one Brazil nut per week. Is that enough selenium? I feel already loaded up on supplements, so trying to avoid adding one more to my mix.

    Reply
    • Hi Lisa,

      You would need to take stock of how much selenium you are getting from supplements each day to be sure. 1 Brazil nut per week would really not hit your daily need for selenium intake unless it is accompanied by other sources from food or supplements.

      Reply
  5. So interesting. I have been taking 200mcg for several years now after reading how important it is for thyroid. I haven’t noticed any improvement and continue to get worse in many many areas. Don’t know what is working and what isn’t. Really seems nothing is. Is it safe to stop taking it to see if I feel better or do I just need to find a lower dose and make sure I am taking some rather than none at all?

    Reply
    • Hi Kelli,

      You could give it a try to see. The reality is that changing up the dosing of 1 ingredient is likely not to have a profound impact either way. Getting back to 100% with a thyroid problem requires a multifaceted approach with multiple supplements, medications, hormones, lifestyle changes, exercise routines, etc. Doing all of these things simultaneously will yield the best results.

      Reply
      • Hi, thanks for all this info. GPs definitely have a blind spot where hashimoto is concerned. My new GP wouldn’t do a t3 test. I’m on levothyroxine which I’ve never been happy with. Indeed I even stopped taking it in summers, first summer was 2 months, the following 3 then last year was 4 months. I felt great. Then not so great, then in January I had what I thought at the to.exwas a stroke, my whole left side went completely numb, I felt like I was sinking into the bed. I could hardly speak , had trouble understanding and processing speech. After 4 months of scans and tests(here’s where I have so much faith in doctors) a private clinic my parents sent me to, 5 days I went to the emergency room within a week, different doctor each time, each one I told I have hashimoto and due to covid crap have been unable to get my tests done for 2 years, none….no not one asked for any thyroid function or otherwise .
        In the end, I got a selenium test which was 191 in a range of less than 50.
        So I now take no supplements from fear, but the symptoms I have now are classic low t3 , which my current gp won’t test for.
        I will take your advice and do the tests you have listed.
        I did indeed feel better not on t4 meds.
        If I could return after my tests, I would be extremely grateful

        Reply
  6. I had Graves disease and destroyed it with radio active iodine many years ago. Would selenium help me? Ft3 is always above, ft4 average and tsh suppressed. Thanks much for your information!

    Reply
  7. Hi Dr. Childs!!!

    I have been taking Selenium 200 mcg every day for a while now. I did notice my goiter went way down, not even visible. I did have Covid (Sars) on Dec 8th along with double pneumonia. Like many people, I started losing my hair after I healed from Covid. They say it is from the high fever related to Covid and throws our hair into shedding. After watching another great video of yours, I am going to drop my Selenium down to 75mcg and see if maybe (that) is not the problem with my hair.

    Reply
    • Hi Susana,

      If you could rely on the testing assay to give you a measure of your selenium level then yes. Unfortunately, very few nutrient tests are accurate, though. Some nutrients should always be tested (like iron and vitamin D) but others are not very accurate and provide information that may lead you astray.

      Reply
  8. I have been taking synthroid and most recently levothyroxine for several years. Seems like each year my dose increases. I also had Covid in Dec and crushed apoxia pneumonia in both lungs. My hair has been shedding badly also! I blamed it on natural thyroid supplements a naturopath doctor prescribed for me. Now I am thinking I should add selenium, but how do you know if you should take it? Or is it safe to take the lowest 75 mcg dosage?

    Reply
  9. Hi Dr. Westin Childs, thank you for this post. How many Brazil nuts would one have to eat a day to get the recommended amount of selenium?

    Reply
    • Hi Sarah,

      I don’t really recommend the use of brazil nuts to get your daily needs of selenium because the selenium in each nut varies too much. If you wanted to try that route then 1-2 nuts is usually the best place to start.

      Reply
  10. Hi
    I take selenium 200 mcg, zinc 30 mg. IF it’s doing something beneficial I wouldn’t know it. I take an array of supplements due to losing thyr hormones for 2.5 yrs an no help from thyr doctors. I’ve had lab work done that not one of 16 tested of which was the cause of losing my t4/t3. I do not go to schlock doctors. Conventional doctors do not care, have no true interest in helping their patient figure out as well as educate their patient. Millions of women are on thyr meds for years, still don’t feel any better and all they’re Dr. does is flip the thyr dosage around over and over.
    For me the thyr meds do not absorb. There’s obviously a blocked pathway in my gut but gawd forbid not one doctor says a thing about your stomach. Ladies….Your gut IS CRITICAL To GETTING YOUR THYROID BACK as well as absorbing your medication to its fullest. I have also gone to functional. Thou they are noted as being far more educated on this topic, it’s a crap shoot to find the right one who knows thyroid. And it’s not cheap. Start educating yourself! Just bec you lost your thyr hormones does not mean you thyroid cannot be put back on track. I don’t want to take drugs nor do I think I need to take them for rest of my life like every fricking dr. tells they’re patients. Some will have to due to removal of thyroid as an ex. Since all the doctors I have seen are 15 yrs behind on current information, latest medication, methods and other alternatives, you’re screwed. I will be going to Mayo Hospital and/or Penn Medicine where they are highly specialized doctors who review as a team to resolve a patients issue.

    My situation is Unsual as the thyr med will not absorb in my system which was going on Before the thyr hormones trashed my stomach. There is a big miss here. I’ve tried multiple dosage. 16 thyr doctors, half are 15 yrs behind in their knowledge an no way up to date. I have had to play doctor to save myself from landing in hospital/ be cared for. Started reading medical from beginning after 1 st Endo. told me I was fine yet severity fatigued, many T3 symptoms, debilitated at home 24/7 and no prior medical issues. Thyr doctors are soooo lazy, antiquated, 15 yrs behind and only follow the one test (TSH/t4) they learned in Med school 25 yrs ago which does not prove you are not hypothyroid. It is beyond pathetic how thyroid disorder is a
    such a failed area of medicine. It’s inexcusable and unconscionable on their part. Told I was completely fine yet I’ve been healthy all my life, no prior medical issues. I’ve done MRI’s, ultrasound, cat scan etc by my choice. All came back with clean results. So if you do nothing else to help yourself, trying Dr. Childs supplements are better than doing nothing. He offers great information. Bottom line: if your medication isn’t removing symptoms an making you feel yourself again, GET A SECOND OPINION! Without your health you have nothing. Good luck!

    Reply
    • Hi Cindy,

      I definitely agree, life is too short to feel poorly for any length of time. Do whatever it takes to find someone who will help you feel better.

      Reply
  11. Hi, I am taking natural selenium from some yeast 200mcg
    but I will be looking for the Selenomethionine, thank you.
    Your article is as great as usual.

    Reply
  12. Hi Dr. Childs,
    Thanks for all this information. I was taking selenium and feeling better, but the endocrinologist took me off because he said it increases blood pressure and blood sugar. What do you think?

    Reply
  13. Hi Dr. Childs,

    Thanks for all your work on the subject.

    Is there a preferred time of day to take selenium? Should it be taken before or after taking levothyroxine and liothyronine in the morning? Lastly, how long should one expect to see improvements after starting the supplement?

    Thanks!
    Talia

    Reply
    • Hi Talia,

      Selenium can be taken at any time of the day but most people take it in the morning. Improvement should be seen within around 6 weeks or so.

      Reply
  14. Hi Dr. Child’s,
    I have been taking your supplements for about 6 months now, and totally feel they make a difference. I’ve just been put on NP thyroid from a Naturopath Dr. Which I was glad to find.
    My question is a general one, I was wondering if low T3 and high T4
    Can be a cause of migraines?

    Thank you for the education
    Patricia

    Reply
    • Hi Patricia,

      I’m not sure there is a causal relationship between migraines and hypothyroidism but there definitely is a correlation between the severity of a migraine and your thyroid status.

      Reply
      • So since I’ve been taking the NP thyroid (they just up’d my dose) my migraines are 90% better and I’ve lost 10 lbs. in 3 weeks!!
        But my hair is falling out excessively. And my free T4 is lower than when I started. Free T3 is within range. (Not optimal)
        Free T 4 is in 60’s……
        Any thoughts?
        I know no personal, but a scenario like this what direction would you consider?
        Patricia

        Reply
  15. I have hyperthyroidism along with graves eye disease My left eye is out of alignment with the right eye and no one will touch my eye until i’m out of the active stage. What is your suggestion???? I’ve been taking selenium for about 3 weeks now and my thyroid panel is normal but I haven’t checked the TSI yet until I go back to the Endocrinologist.

    Reply
  16. I have non-Hashi hypothyroidism. My T3 is chronically low. I assume this is a conversion problem. I take both a T4 and T3 medication and even still my Free T3 sits below 3. I have been taking 200mcg of selenium for over 6 months and don’t find any benefits as of yet. maybe too much?

    Reply

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