Selenium, a trace element essential for human health, plays a critical role in various physiological processes and is commonly assessed through its concentration in serum. As an integral component of selenoproteins, selenium is pivotal in antioxidant defense systems, thyroid hormone metabolism, and immune function. The primary dietary sources of selenium include nuts, cereals, meat, fish, and eggs, with its bioavailability influenced by soil composition and dietary factors. Serum selenium levels are reflective of both short-term and long-term selenium status, offering a reliable biomarker for nutritional assessment. The typical reference range for serum selenium varies, but is generally considered to be between 70 and 150 ng/mL. Deficiencies in selenium can lead to adverse health outcomes such as Keshan disease, a cardiomyopathy, and Kashin-Beck disease, an osteoarthropathy. Conversely, excessive selenium intake can result in selenosis, characterized by symptoms including gastrointestinal disturbances, hair loss, and neurological abnormalities. Analytical methods for determining serum selenium levels include atomic absorption spectrometry, particularly hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, both offering high sensitivity and specificity. Monitoring serum selenium is crucial in various clinical settings, particularly in regions with known soil selenium deficiencies or in populations with dietary restrictions, to prevent both deficiency and toxicity, thereby ensuring optimal health outcomes.
Reference Range(s):
| <2 Years | 16-71 mcg/L |
| 2-4 Years | 40-103 mcg/L |
| 4-16 Years | 55-134 mcg/L |
| Adult | 63-160 mcg/L |
What does it mean if your Selenium result is too high?
Elevated levels of selenium in the serum indicate an excessive intake of this trace element, a condition known as selenosis. This overexposure can occur due to high dietary intake from selenium-rich foods, such as certain nuts and seafood, or through over-supplementation. Environmental exposure in areas with selenium-rich soil can also contribute to higher levels. Selenosis can manifest in various symptoms including gastrointestinal problems, hair and nail loss, fatigue, irritability, and in severe cases, neurological issues. The treatment for selenosis primarily involves reducing or eliminating the source of excess selenium. This might mean adjusting the diet to avoid selenium-rich foods or discontinuing selenium supplements. In cases where environmental exposure is a factor, it may require relocating or implementing measures to reduce contact with selenium-rich soils or water. Additionally, supportive care to manage symptoms, such as providing nutritional support for hair and nail growth, might be necessary. It's important to work closely with a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and to tailor a treatment plan that addresses the specific cause and symptoms of the elevated selenium levels. Regular monitoring of serum selenium levels can help in tracking the effectiveness of these interventions and ensuring that levels return to a safe range.
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
What does it mean if your Selenium result is too low?
Low levels of selenium in the serum indicate a deficiency in this essential trace element, which can arise from inadequate dietary intake, poor absorption, or increased requirements due to certain health conditions. Selenium deficiency can have significant health implications as it is crucial for the proper functioning of the immune system, thyroid gland, and antioxidant defenses in the body. Symptoms of selenium deficiency can include muscle weakness, fatigue, hair loss, and a weakened immune system. In more severe cases, it can lead to specific conditions like Keshan disease, a type of heart disease, or Kashin-Beck disease, a type of osteoarthritis.
Treatment for selenium deficiency primarily involves increasing selenium intake. This can be achieved through dietary adjustments, focusing on selenium-rich foods such as seafood, nuts (especially Brazil nuts), meats, cereals, and dairy products. In cases where dietary changes are insufficient or impractical, selenium supplements may be used. It is important that supplementation be done under medical supervision to avoid the risk of overdosing, as excessive selenium intake can lead to toxicity. Additionally, addressing any underlying conditions that might be contributing to poor selenium absorption or increased requirements is crucial. Regular monitoring of serum selenium levels can help to ensure that the treatment is effective and that levels are being restored to a healthy range.
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
Frequently asked questions
Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
- Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
- Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
- Upload lab reports from any lab
- View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
- Track trends and monitor changes over time
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export and share your full lab history
- Access your results anytime, from any device
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 10000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
- The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
- GI-MAP,
- The NutrEval FMV®,
- The ION Profile,
- Amino Acids Profile,
- Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
- Organic Acids Test,
- Organix Comprehensive Profile,
- Toxic Metals,
- Complete Blood Count (CBC),
- Metabolic panel,
- Thyroid panel,
- Lipid Panel,
- Urinalysis,
- And many, many more.
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.