LAFYA Wellness+
Ingredient library

Mineral

Selenium

Selenium is found naturally in many foods, especially foods that contain protein. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes a recommended amount of Adults 55 mcg, and an upper limit of Adults 400 mcg. Read 2026-08-09.

What is Selenium?

NIH's fact sheet for Selenium carries no line we quote here under this heading.

How much Selenium does NIH publish?

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Selenium — Consumer. Read 2026-08-17.
Life stageAmountPrinted table
Adults55 mcgRecommended Amount
Birth to 6 months15 mcgRecommended Amount
Breastfeeding teens and women70 mcgRecommended Amount
Children 1–3 years20 mcgRecommended Amount
Children 4–8 years30 mcgRecommended Amount
Children 9–13 years40 mcgRecommended Amount
Infants 7–12 months20 mcgRecommended Amount
Pregnant teens and women60 mcgRecommended Amount
Teens 14–18 years55 mcgRecommended Amount
Adults400 mcgUpper Limit
Birth to 6 months45 mcgUpper Limit
Breastfeeding teens and women400 mcgUpper Limit
Children 1–3 years90 mcgUpper Limit
Children 4–8 years150 mcgUpper Limit
Children 9–13 years280 mcgUpper Limit
Infants 7–12 months60 mcgUpper Limit
Pregnant teens and women400 mcgUpper Limit
Teens 14–18 years400 mcgUpper Limit

Children and teens

Rows for children and teens appear in the table above, in NIH's own wording.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Rows for pregnant and breastfeeding life stages appear in the table above, in NIH's own wording.

What upper limit does NIH publish for Selenium?

  • Adults: 400 mcg
  • Birth to 6 months: 45 mcg
  • Breastfeeding teens and women: 400 mcg
  • Children 1–3 years: 90 mcg
  • Children 4–8 years: 150 mcg
  • Children 9–13 years: 280 mcg
  • Infants 7–12 months: 60 mcg
  • Pregnant teens and women: 400 mcg
  • Teens 14–18 years: 400 mcg

Which foods contain Selenium?

"Selenium is found naturally in many foods, especially foods that contain protein."

Where these numbers come from

Every quote and every amount on this page comes from National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Selenium — Consumer. Public domain (U.S. Government work). LAFYA read the sheet 2026-08-09.

Read the full fact sheet at NIH Office of Dietary Supplements

What LAFYA does not say about Selenium

LAFYA publishes no claim that selenium does anything in the body, because we cannot prove one.

Quotes are word-for-word from National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Public domain (U.S. Government work). LAFYA does not interpret, summarise, or add to them.

NIH source read 2026-08-09.