Selenium
The mineral selenium is an essential trace element for humans that protects cells from oxidative stress. Selenium must be ingested with food; the human organism cannot produce it itself.
Buy premium selenium supplements from BIOGENA
Selenium as a nutritional supplement
Selenium supplements are an easy way to supply the body with supplemental selenium. To choose a suitable selenium supplement for you, ideally you should have your selenium levels checked beforehand.
Dosage forms: selenium capsules, tablets, drops, powders and many more.
If you want to increase your selenium intake with the aid of a selenium supplement, there are a number of different formats available. The most common forms include selenium capsules, tablets and drops.
Capsule products, which are manufactured to the same standards as BIOGENA products, do not require the unnecessary additives that tablets do (e.g. colourings, binding and anti-caking agents or synthetic coatings). This somewhat more complex and expensive production method is compensated for by excellent tolerability and high bioavailability.
Selenium drops can be placed on the tongue, especially for people who do not like to swallow capsules or may even struggle with swallowing. To choose a premium product, however, you should always take a careful look at the list of ingredients and choose according to the ‘less is more’ principle.
Is selenium vegan?
Vegan selenium raw ingredients are generally used in food supplements. It makes no difference whether you take an organic selenium supplement or an inorganic selenium product.
Natural selenium
For people who prefer to get selenium naturally, food supplements with organic selenium compounds are just the thing. In natural foods, selenium is usually present in the form of readily bioavailable, organically-bound selenium. Plant-based foods primarily contain selenomethionine, while animal products mainly contain selenocysteine. Premium products supply the organically-bound selenium in the form of selenium yeast, obtained by cultivating yeast in a nutrient medium with selenium.
High-dose selenium
Micronutrient experts and medical professionals recommend the use of high-dose selenium as a course of treatment in certain cases. In this case, both organic and inorganic selenium can be taken.
Selenium vs. selenite
Whether you should opt for organic selenium (selenomethionine) or inorganic selenite depends on the situation.
If you want to quickly boost your selenium levels and top up your selenium levels at the same time, organic seleniummethionine is ideal. Those who are more patient and prefer a gentler approach should opt for sodium selenite.
The advantage of organic selenium (selenomethionine) is that it can be very well absorbed and stored by our body, which means that increased selenium levels are maintained for a longer period of time after stopping supplementation. Regular monitoring of selenium blood levels is therefore recommended when taking organic selenium supplements.
Inorganic selenium (sodium selenite), on the other hand, is considered the ‘gentler’ way of supplementing selenium. Sodium selenite can also enhance selenium-dependent enzymes, but we need to be patient here as it is less readily available to our body. The big advantage of sodium selenite, however, is that excess amounts can be expelled through urine.
If you are having trouble deciding, it is best to consult your doctor. They will be happy to advise you on the type of selenium is best suited to your needs and in which dosage.
Selenium complex vs. individual compounds
Selenium can be present in food supplements as a complex (= mixture of organic and inorganic compounds) or as individual compounds. Since our body responds differently to using inorganic or organic compounds, BIOGENA prefers the use of individual compounds.
Capsules with zinc, selenium, magnesium and potassium
In physiological doses, selenium and other minerals (e.g. potassium, magnesium, zinc) can be combined and packed into a capsule without any problems, without them interfering with each other's absorption. Clever mineral combinations are actually very useful in this regard, as they make it easier for people who find it hard to obtain the minerals they need.
Comparison of selenium supplements: Our test winners
BIOGENA Selen natural is our selenium test winner from BIOGENA. This premium natural product contains natural, organically-bound selenium (Lalmin® Se1000) at physiological concentrations. The branded raw ingredient Lalmin® Se1000 used in these products is obtained by cultivating yeast in a culture medium with selenium. Careful processing of the branded raw ingredient enables a high concentration of the essential nutrient to be achieved in the completely inactivated selenium yeast. BIOGENA Selen natural – for people seeking a natural way to improve their nutritional selenium intake.
The best way to find out whether it makes sense for you to take selenium is to discuss it with a trusted healthcare professional. Your doctor can refer to a micronutrient analysis to assess your selenium intake.
Selenium tablets or capsules should be as free as possible from additives. What's more, the dosage and the compounds they contain should be perfectly tailored to your personal needs. Your doctor will be happy to advise you.
There is no such thing as the perfect selenium for everyone. Depending on your personal needs, organic or inorganic selenium supplements may be more suitable. However, they should all contain as few additives as possible.
People who already take sufficient amounts of selenium or those who are unsure about their selenium levels should not take selenium supplements over long periods without consulting their doctor, rather they should first receive an analysis of their selenium levels.
While organic selenium can be mixed with other supplements without any problems, sodium selenite should not be taken at the same time as high doses of vitamin C, as this can affect the availability of selenium – in this case, waiting one hour is recommended. The same applies to simultaneous consumption with high-dose trace elements (e.g. zinc).
