- Fish
- Eggs
- Poultry
- Meat
- Dairy products
- Whole grains
- Certain nuts and seeds
Some alternative-health discussions suggest that cholesterol-lowering medicines substantially deplete selenium. However, there is not strong clinical evidence showing that standard statin use commonly causes selenium deficiency.
True selenium deficiency is more likely to occur because of inadequate intake, certain gastrointestinal conditions, severe illness, or unusually low selenium levels in locally grown foods.
Taking too much selenium can also be harmful. Excessive supplementation may cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal problems, brittle nails, hair loss, metallic taste, and neurological problems.
For that reason, more is not necessarily better.
