Form Comparison

Selenium Yeast vs Sodium Selenite

How selenium yeast and sodium selenite differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.

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Quick verdict. Selenium yeast, mostly selenomethionine, is better absorbed and retained, building a protein-bound selenium pool that raises blood levels more. Selenite is about 50% absorbed but goes straight to selenoprotein synthesis, so lower blood selenium does not necessarily mean lower selenoprotein activity. Choose yeast to raise selenium status, and selenite if you want selenium without building up a stored pool.

Side by Side

Selenium Yeast Sodium Selenite
Elemental content Varies by product 45.7% elemental selenium
Absorption High Moderate
How it is absorbed Yeast grown on selenium; selenium is present mostly as selenomethionine with smaller amounts of other compounds. Inorganic form; about 50% absorbed. Not stored in proteins, but directly available for selenoprotein synthesis.
Typical dose 55-200 mcg daily 55-200 mcg daily
Common uses general supplementation multivitamins, parenteral nutrition
Side effects As for selenomethionine. As for other forms at excess doses.
Cost Low Low
Also called selenized yeast, high-selenium yeast selenite
Labels in index 120 43

When to Choose Selenium Yeast

Choose selenium yeast when you prefer a food-derived matrix. Composition varies by batch and manufacturer.

Selenium Yeast

Choose selenium yeast when you prefer a food-derived matrix.

What to look for: Selenium Yeast named on the Supplement Facts panel, with the amount per serving stated.

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When to Choose Sodium Selenite

Choose sodium selenite when you want selenium for selenoprotein synthesis without building a protein-bound pool. Lower blood selenium per mcg than selenomethionine does not necessarily mean lower selenoprotein activity.

Sodium Selenite

Less absorbed, but it feeds selenoprotein synthesis directly without building a reserve. The form used in the Graves' orbitopathy trial.

What to look for: Usually a prescribed, time-limited course at a defined dose.

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Products on Titrate

In Titrate's index of NIH label data, 120 labels named as selenium products list selenium yeast and 43 list sodium selenite.

Open supplement search

Selenium does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.

Related

References

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Selenium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.

Clark LC, et al. Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention in patients with carcinoma of the skin. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1996;276(24):1957-1963.

Stranges S, et al. Effects of long-term selenium supplementation on the incidence of type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147(4):217-223.

Thomson CD, et al. Brazil nuts: an effective way to improve selenium status. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87(2):379-384.

Lippman SM, et al. Effect of selenium and vitamin E on risk of prostate cancer and other cancers: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT). JAMA. 2009;301(1):39-51.

Hurst R, et al. Establishing optimal selenium status: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(4):923-931.

MacFarquhar JK, et al. Acute selenium toxicity associated with a dietary supplement. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(3):256-261.

Marcocci C, et al. Selenium and the course of mild Graves' orbitopathy. N Engl J Med. 2011;364(20):1920-1931.