{"id":8909,"date":"2024-11-28T21:15:53","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T19:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=8909"},"modified":"2026-06-18T14:39:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T11:39:36","slug":"selenium-is-always-a-valuable-asset-to-you-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/selenium-is-always-a-valuable-asset-to-you-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Selenium test: when to take it and why this trace element is so important"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"189\" data-end=\"231\"><strong>What is selenium and why should you check it?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"233\" data-end=\"545\">Selenium is a vital trace element involved in thyroid function, cellular protection from oxidative stress, immune function, and reproductive health. Its deficiency or excess can seriously affect metabolism, energy balance, antioxidant defense, and even mood.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"547\" data-end=\"685\">A selenium analysis allows you to determine the concentration of this element in the body and identify disorders that often occur without obvious symptoms.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"687\" data-end=\"723\"><strong>When should you get tested for selenium?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"725\" data-end=\"1114\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"725\" data-end=\"789\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"727\" data-end=\"789\">At <strong data-start=\"731\" data-end=\"750\">chronic fatigue<\/strong>, decreased immunity, frequent colds<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"790\" data-end=\"877\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"792\" data-end=\"877\">In case <strong data-start=\"799\" data-end=\"839\">decreased thyroid function<\/strong> (hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"878\" data-end=\"930\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"880\" data-end=\"930\">If there is <strong data-start=\"887\" data-end=\"928\">problems with skin, hair, nails<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"985\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"933\" data-end=\"985\">In patients with <strong data-start=\"948\" data-end=\"983\">infertility or decreased libido<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"986\" data-end=\"1050\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"988\" data-end=\"1050\">After <strong data-start=\"994\" data-end=\"1048\">long-term intake of antioxidants, vitamins, dietary supplements<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1051\" data-end=\"1114\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1053\" data-end=\"1114\">At <strong data-start=\"1057\" data-end=\"1084\">suspected intoxication<\/strong> or <strong data-start=\"1089\" data-end=\"1114\">selenium overdose<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1116\" data-end=\"1147\"><strong>How to prepare for the analysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"1149\" data-end=\"1392\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1149\" data-end=\"1188\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1151\" data-end=\"1188\">Blood donation <strong data-start=\"1165\" data-end=\"1186\">in the morning on an empty stomach<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1189\" data-end=\"1253\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1191\" data-end=\"1253\">8\u201312 hours before blood sampling \u2014 do not eat, drink coffee or tea<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1254\" data-end=\"1330\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1256\" data-end=\"1330\">Preferably within 3\u20135 days <strong data-start=\"1275\" data-end=\"1328\">do not take vitamin complexes containing selenium<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1331\" data-end=\"1392\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1333\" data-end=\"1392\">In consultation with the doctor - <strong data-start=\"1360\" data-end=\"1390\">stop taking dietary supplements<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1394\" data-end=\"1490\">The analysis is performed on venous blood, less often on urine or hair (to assess chronic levels).<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1394\" data-end=\"1490\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8905\" src=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/themes\/woodmart\/images\/lazy.svg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/321.jpeg\" alt=\"Table of foods containing selenium\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/321.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/321-150x84.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/321-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/321-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/321-768x432.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1492\" data-end=\"1536\"><strong>What level of selenium is considered normal?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1538\" data-end=\"1591\">In most laboratories, normal values for blood are:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1593\" data-end=\"1743\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1593\" data-end=\"1645\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1595\" data-end=\"1645\"><strong data-start=\"1595\" data-end=\"1611\">70\u2013130 \u03bcg\/l<\/strong> \u2014 overall normal range<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1646\" data-end=\"1681\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1648\" data-end=\"1681\">&lt; 70 \u03bcg\/l \u2014 <strong data-start=\"1661\" data-end=\"1679\">selenium deficiency<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1682\" data-end=\"1743\">\n<blockquote data-start=\"1684\" data-end=\"1743\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1686\" data-end=\"1743\">130 mcg\/l \u2014 <strong data-start=\"1698\" data-end=\"1718\">level up<\/strong> (possible intoxication)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1745\" data-end=\"1861\">Optimal values may depend on age, gender, and physiological condition (pregnancy, thyroid disease).<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1863\" data-end=\"1904\"><strong>Table: What the analysis result means<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"overflow-x-auto contain-inline-size\">\n<table data-start=\"1906\" data-end=\"2498\">\n<thead data-start=\"1906\" data-end=\"2022\">\n<tr data-start=\"1906\" data-end=\"2022\">\n<th data-start=\"1906\" data-end=\"1928\">Selenium level<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"1928\" data-end=\"1971\">What does this mean<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"1971\" data-end=\"2022\">Possible causes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-start=\"2142\" data-end=\"2498\">\n<tr data-start=\"2142\" data-end=\"2260\">\n<td>&lt; 70 \u03bcg\/l<\/td>\n<td>Deficit<\/td>\n<td>Unbalanced diet, digestive diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"2261\" data-end=\"2378\">\n<td>70\u2013130 \u03bcg\/l<\/td>\n<td>Norm<\/td>\n<td>Physiologically optimal level<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"2379\" data-end=\"2498\">\n<td>&gt; 130 \u03bcg\/l<\/td>\n<td>Excess<\/td>\n<td>Excessive use of dietary supplements, intoxication, selenosis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2500\" data-end=\"2531\"><strong>How to replenish selenium deficiency<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"2533\" data-end=\"2826\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2533\" data-end=\"2617\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2535\" data-end=\"2617\">Foods rich in selenium: Brazil nuts, fish, eggs, seafood, liver<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2618\" data-end=\"2745\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2620\" data-end=\"2745\">In case of significant deficiency, a doctor may prescribe <strong data-start=\"2688\" data-end=\"2743\">selenium preparations (selemethionine, sodium selenite)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2746\" data-end=\"2826\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2748\" data-end=\"2826\">Importantly: <strong data-start=\"2757\" data-end=\"2788\">do not self-medicate<\/strong>, because selenium is toxic in high doses<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2828\" data-end=\"2852\"><strong>References to sources<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ol data-start=\"2854\" data-end=\"3124\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2854\" data-end=\"2968\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2857\" data-end=\"2968\">Mayo Clinic \u2013 <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/drugs-supplements-selenium\/art-20364692\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2871\" data-end=\"2966\">Selenium: Why you need it<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2969\" data-end=\"3078\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2972\" data-end=\"3078\">WHO \u2013 <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/9241561734\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2978\" data-end=\"3076\">Trace elements in human nutrition and health<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3079\" data-end=\"3124\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3082\" data-end=\"3124\">FDA - Selenium information for consumers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>A selenium test is a simple test that helps assess this important component of health. It is recommended not only for diseases, but also for the prevention of deficiencies, which often go unnoticed.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is selenium and why should you check it? Selenium is a vital trace element that is involved in the functioning of the thyroid gland,<\/p>","protected":false},"author":627,"featured_media":8902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[234],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-imunitet-ta-profilaktyka"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/627"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8909"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8909\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13490,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8909\/revisions\/13490"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}