Product - Selenium Gold

General Questions about Selenium

What is selenium?

Selenium is a trace mineral found naturally in produce, seeds, nuts, and whole grains that are grown in selenium-rich soil. Selenium functions as an antioxidant in the human body.  A number of antioxidant enzymes in the body, including glutathione peroxidase, require selenium in order to function. Selenium is also necessary for the normal functioning and health of the thyroid gland and immune system.

What are some risk factors for a selenium deficiency?

A diet rich in fresh produce and whole grains can typically supply the body with adequate amounts of selenium. However, today’s over-reliance on refined and processed foods can provide a challenge to optimal selenium intake. It may be important to note that selenium concentration in plants is highly dependent upon the selenium content of the soil they are grown in.  For instance, the soil of the South and Northeast is known to have less selenium than some other sections of the United States. Individuals with certain medical conditions (e.g. malabsorption syndromes, Crohn’s disease) are also at an increased risk of selenium deficiency.

Are there any food sources of selenium?

Brazil nuts are considered to be the richest food source of selenium. Other good sources of selenium include seafood (tuna, shrimp, sardines, salmon, cod), whole grains, organ meats, eggs, and dairy products.

What is the recommended daily allowance for selenium?

The 100% daily value (%DV) for selenium for individuals 18 years of age and older is 55 mcg. This goes up to 70 mcg per day during pregnancy/breastfeeding. As with any supplement, please talk to your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to ensure you are following the dosing schedule that is right for your particular health needs.

Is there an established upper toxicity limit for selenium?

The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the Institute of Medicine has set the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for selenium at 400  mcg/day for adults. The Upper Tolerable Limit (UL) is considered to be the highest amount you can take of a nutrient without theoretical risk.

Can selenium supplements be taken with OTC or prescription medications?

If you are taking or planning to take an OTC or prescription medication, please consult a licensed pharmacist or your healthcare provider before beginning supplementation to minimize risk of side effects associated with potential supplement-drug interactions.

Still have questions?

• For general information about selenium, check out the resources below—
• Selenium Fact Sheet for Consumers — Office of Dietary Supplements
• Selenium — Linus Pauling Institute
• Selenium — Harvard School of Public Health
• Selenium — Fascinating Microelement, Properties and Sources in Food
• For specific guidance on the suitability of selenium to support your particular health goals, please talk to your healthcare provider.

Questions about Selenium Gold

What is the source of selenium in Selenium Gold?

Selenium Gold provides a gentle and nourishing form of  plant-based selenium from mustard seed and other ingredients in the organic food blend. The full list of organic foods can be found under the ‘Organic Food Blend’ in the supplement facts panel (on the label) and on the product page on our website. 

What is the purpose of the organic food blend in Selenium Gold?

At Nutrigold, we are mindful of the fact that every ingredient in a product, regardless of whether it is an active ingredient that provides a health benefit or an additive that ensures finished product integrity, can and will likely have some impact on consumers’ health. This is why we are philosophically opposed to the use of synthetic, semi-synthetic, or commodity additives like magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide commonly found in most commercially-available supplements. We choose instead to use organic, plant-based, pantry-friendly functional additives that not only have a history of safe use, but may help support the bioavailability and absorption of selenium from the mustard seed in the food blend.

How does Selenium Gold compare to other forms of selenium such as sodium selenite or selenomethionine?

Sodium selenite is an inorganic form of selenium that may have limited bioavailability and/or efficacy.  Likewise, another form of selenium, selenomethionine, occurs naturally in food like brazil nuts and whole grains, but there is not enough information on how the selenomethionine in dietary supplements is processed and whether it has the same form and will provide the same benefits as naturally-occurring selenomethionine in foods.

Selenium Gold is a gentle and nourishing form of plant-based selenium that is derived entirely from natural food sources—it is not synthetic selenium fermented, grown or cultured in yeast or a blend of organic foods fortified with synthetic selenium and marketed as “whole-food” or “food-based” selenium.

How does NutriGold ensure the purity of the ingredients used in its Selenium Gold product?

At NutriGold, we go above and beyond what is recommended or required under current GMPs to independently verify that the raw materials used in our products as well as the finished products themselves meet industry-defining quality and purity standards. Depending on the complexity of the testing involved, including determining what needs to be tested, what methods are fit-for-purpose, and which lab is most qualified to perform the testing, we sometimes have results from as many as 4 or 5 different independent, ISO-certified labs for each product. We take these results from third-party labs and summarize them in lot-specific Certificates of Analysis that are  freely available in the spirit of authentic transparency on the product pages on our website so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions.

What assurance can you provide that the amount of  selenium  listed on the label (200 mcg) is actually in the product?

All of our products are verified by independent third-party labs to meet identity, purity, and potency label claims. We take these results from third-party labs and summarize them in lot-specific Certificates of Analysis (C of A) that are  freely available in the spirit of authentic transparency on the product pages on our website so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions. The C of A provides assurance that the claims made on the label accurately reflect the contents of the product inside the bottle. If interested, more information on our our commitment to independent, third party quality testing can be found at this link - https://nutrigold.com/pages/accountability  

What is the best time of day to take Selenium Gold? Should it be taken with food?

Selenium Gold is made using organic foods and can be taken anytime, even on an empty stomach. However, as a matter of principle and in the interest of your health and safety, we encourage you to consult your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to determine what use, if any, is best for your individual needs.

What is a pullulan capsule? What is it made of?

Pullulan is a vegetable-derived, water-soluble polysaccharide produced through a natural fermentation process. Pullulan capsules are considered more natural than HPMC (cellulose) capsules because they are naturally derived from fermented tapioca. Unlike cellulose capsules, which are considered semi-synthetic and not permitted in certified organic products, pullulan is included in the USDA’s National Organic Program list of accepted ingredients for organic products. 

Can I break apart the capsule and add the contents to liquid/food to consume?

All of our products are formulated to be taken as capsules and our purity and potency claims are based on the product being taken as recommended. We generally do not recommend breaking apart the capsules because it can introduce contaminants or otherwise compromise product potency and effectiveness.

Is Selenium Gold suitable for children (under 18 years of age)?

Selenium Gold is formulated for individuals over 18 years. Because children are considered a vulnerable population, we regret we cannot make any recommendations regarding the use of our products by or for children under the age of 18. We ask that you talk to your pediatrician or family practitioner about whether or not Selenium Gold is suitable and safe for your child’s particular healthcare needs prior to supplementation.