Life ExtensionSuper Selenium Complex with Vitamin E – Cellular Health & Longevity Support – Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, Vegetarian –100 Capsules(Pack of 1)

Selenium is important for human health. A deficiency causes problems; too much is also a concern. This review begins with a brief overview of information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to put this into a larger context.1) Most people get enough selenium from their diet. This has been confirmed through studies of intake from food and supplements (2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)) as well as studies of serum levels (NHANES data from 2003–2004).a. Foods that provide the most selenium are brazil nuts, seafoods, and organ meats. Additional sources are muscle meats, cereals , breads and other grains, dairy products, poultry and eggs.b. The amount of selenium in food will vary depending upon region and soil conditions.c. Some areas of China, some European countries, and New Zealand are known to have very low levels of selenium.d. Those following a mostly vegetarian or vegan diet, or avoiding wheat and/or other grains may need to supplement.2) The RDA for selenium is thought to be enough to meet needs for 97-98% of healthy people. It ranges from 20 mcg at age 1 year up to 55 mcg for age 14+ years. It is higher for those who are pregnant (60 mcg) or breastfeeding (70 mcg).3) Re: Cancer risk. According to the NIH, “Because of its effects on DNA repair, apoptosis, and the endocrine and immune systems as well as other mechanisms, including its antioxidant properties, selenium might play a role in the prevention of cancer….” Please note that having a possible role in prevention is not the same as treatment, and so selenium could be part of your prescribed treatment for cancer, but should not be considered as a substitute for treatment. Specific cancers that seem to be of higher risk when selenium status is low are: colorectal, prostate, lung, bladder, skin, esophageal, and gastric cancers. Please note that because the amount and forms of selenium that people get in their diet, as well as other reasons like interactions between selenium and other minerals, you can find studies that support this position, as well as studies that do not find that support. Selenium matters, and it is not ALL that matters.4) Re: Cancer treatment. “Cisplatin, an inorganic platinum chemotherapy agent, is used to treat ovarian, bladder, lung, and other cancers. Cisplatin can reduce selenium levels in hair and serum but whether these reductions have a clinically significant impact is not known. Some small studies have shown that selenium supplementation can reduce cisplatin’s toxicity but the authors of a Cochrane review concluded that the evidence that selenium supplementation alleviates the side effects of chemotherapy is insufficient” (NIH). Ask your physician and/or pharmacist to keep updated on your personal recommendations for selenium supplementation.5) Re: Cardiovascular (heart) disease. “Selenoproteins help prevent the oxidative modification of lipids, reducing inflammation and preventing platelets from aggregating. For these reasons, experts have suggested that selenium supplements could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease or deaths associated with cardiovascular disease” (NIH). Too much selenium is also not OK, so for serious health concerns, have your physician check your selenium levels and take it from there.6) Re: Cognitive decline. “Serum selenium concentrations decline with age. Marginal or deficient selenium concentrations might be associated with age-related declines in brain function, possibly due to decreases in selenium’s antioxidant activity” (NIH). It seems to be that overall nutritional status (including selenium, rather than selenium levels all by themselves) are associated with mental abilities over time.7) Re: Thyroid. “Selenium concentration is higher in the thyroid gland than in any other organ in the body, and, like iodine, selenium has important functions in thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism” (NIH). Selenium levels seem to interact with iodine levels to impact thyroid volume, risk of goiter, and risk of thyroid tissue damage. This seems particularly important for women and those who have thyroid issues and are pregnant.8) Re: Dialysis. Hemodialysis removes some selenium from the blood. Patients might also have a lower intake from uremia with anorexia, and dietary restrictions.9) Re: HIV. “Selenium levels are often low in people living with HIV, possibly because of inadequate intakes (especially in developing countries), excessive losses due to diarrhea, and malabsorption. Observational studies have found an association between lower selenium concentrations in people with HIV and an increased risk of cardiomyopathy, death, and, in pregnant women, HIV transmission to offspring and early death of offspring” (NIH).10) Re: Absorption issues. As always, if you have some condition that affect your absorption of selenium, then it may be necessary to supplement.11) It is possible to have TOO MUCH selenium. The upper limit of what is considered to be tolerable is 400 mcg for ages 14 years old and higher. Beyond that limit, indications of too much are a garlic odor in the breath, metallic taste in the mouth, hair and nail brittleness and loss, skin lesions, nervous system lesions, nausea, diarrhea, skin rashes, mottled teeth, fatigue, and irritability.12) You do not need to guess whether you have adequate selenium or not. Your doctor can order testing. Your physician can test concentrations in your blood or urine for your recent intake, or choose analysis of your hair or nails to check long-term intake (that means over months or years). A couple of examples of ways that your doctor might determine your status are tests for glutathione peroxidase and/or selenoprotein P.13) When supplements are compared, the form of selenium is important. Common forms used in supplements are selenomethionine or selenium-enriched yeast (grown in a high-selenium medium) or as sodium selenite or sodium selenate. The human body absorbs more than 90% of selenomethionine but only about 50% of selenium from selenite. This can also explain why a person might have different results with different supplements.14). This product has a combination of forms of selenium, so it may affect you differently than other selenium supplements. At a combined level of 200 mcg, it is unlikely that taking more than one capsule each day would be helpful, and it is possible that taking more than one could exceed recommended levels, even if you were directed to take a supplement. Be clear on what your doctor wants you to do! Remember that selenium and other supplements and increase, decrease, or otherwise change the effect of prescription medications. Bring your complete supplement list to your pharmacist to have it cross-checked with your prescriptions. There are also on-line drug interaction programs that check supplements, too. Those can help you to zero in on specific questions for your pharmacist and help to make sure that nothing is overlooked. This company does use 3rd party testing for purity and content, and labels products with their lot number and expiration date. That's important. Expect a clear seal on the outside, and an inner seal inside the cap. If you prefer to stick with a product that has only the L-selenomethionine form, then Source Naturals offers that, and it is also a reputable company. My doctor actually sells that one out of his office. It can be easier to check a single form against any prescriptions that you may take. Personally, I tend to switch off on which one I buy as I haven't developed a preference. All selenium supplements usually have a slight odor that might be more bothersome to women who are pregnant.I hope that this review is helpful to you in providing an overview of considerations for selenium supplementation, and how this product might fit in with your overall health plan. I did my best to point out known issues, and what you might want to be aware of to look into, further. It is important to be safe, and if you have read this far then your health is important to you, and it is great that you are doing your best to learn more! If this helped you in some way, then please click to let me know. Good health and happy shopping to you. Thanks!

This stuff is rocking my world. Super easy to take, small pill - check my video - and the benefits are visible almost straight away. When I hit menopause, hypothyroidism took control of my body and let me know I was getting older!! I learned my body was depleted in selenium, creating a situation that was not optimal for my body and it was failing so I turned to life extensions and I am so glad I did. I love their products, I know I am getting the best and safest ingredients and most importantly, I am feeling better since I've started taking this. I can feel my body repairing and getting stronger.

I'm giving this 5 stars because it is very absorbable by the body making it a well made supplement.However, taking it every day along with a healthy diet was too much after 3 weeks and I developed the side effects of overdose.Taking only 2 days per week now.

Hard to get past the smell

I bought this product to raise my energy, I like the capsule size, and price, it consists of vitamin E and vegetables & gluten-free

I have a health challenge, and I require selenium supplementation. If I do not take it, my normal levels of energy, strength, and endurance drop MARKEDLY. It can get so terrible that even climbing a simple flight of steps becomes painful. My muscles will hurt, & I will experience a "flush" when I get to the top. Nevermind trying to do my favorite athletic activity...or even just going to the gym! That becomes far too painful, as well. Without selenium, my quality of life drops. No fun!!I'm so grateful that this was the first selenium supplement I ever took and quite by accident/pure luck, too. B/c at this point, I cannot imagine my life without it.Since I started taking this item and whenever I run out of this b/c I haven't been paying close enough attention to my levels in order more on time, I experience issues. I live in a big city, and go figure. I cannot find this exact supplement locally. (I've tried and have visited or called a huge number of HFS!) Here on Amazon, this isn't always available for delivery within 2 days, depending on the seller offering it. I've had times where it took 2+ weeks to receive it. Well in those cases, I have looked for "in between" options.I've ended up trying several brands that ARE available locally in order to see: (a) if I could find another one that works as well as this one does and; (b) if I could determine which of the 3 types of selenium (Sodium Selenite; Se-Methyl L-Selenocysteine; SelenoPure(tm) L-Selenomethionine) that are in this supplement are "doing it" for me. I've tried the different forms individually or as a combo of 2. No one else (that I've been able to find, thus far) has these three forms available in a single bottle. Before you ask, it isn't the Vitamin E doing it, either, b/c I take that as a separate supplement each day, too.In case you're wondering, I notice a difference within 2-4 days of running out of this LEF Super Selenium Complex supplement. So, each time I try another selenium supplement, I know right away if it is working or not. Furthermore when I finally receive my order and start taking this item again, I'm "back" to my regular self within 2 days.Now...this is me and my personal experience ONLY. What works for me might not work for you. I can't make any broad conclusions to cover a wide swath of people. Our bodies are all different to some degree. If this helps you, great. If it doesn't, keep looking. There's an answer out there for you.Lastly, I take 2 of these capsules each day -- one in the morning and one in the evening, usually with food. Again, this is just my personal dose. Your needs may differ. So, keep that in mind, as well.

I have been taking selenium for years, do the research, the benefits are many. At one of my annual physicals a few years ago, my doctor asked if I took any vitamins or supplements. I told him I take selenium, magnesium and cayenne pepper every day. He smiled and said I couldn't have picked better ones to take.

Selenium stinks! I couldn't get past the smell. I had to throw these away. It's not the brands fault though. Selenium literally stinks. I've ordered other supplements from life extension and they're legit.