An essential trace mineral and antioxidant important for thyroid function.
Selenium is an essential trace mineral the body needs in small amounts. It supports antioxidant defences, thyroid hormone metabolism and immune function through selenium-containing proteins.
This test measures selenium in serum or plasma. The value reflects selenium in the extracellular fluid, the compartment outside your cells, which is the standard measurement used to assess selenium status.
Both too little and too much selenium can cause problems, so it sits in a fairly narrow healthy window. Measuring it helps confirm adequate intake.
A low level can affect thyroid function, immunity and antioxidant protection, and may follow poor intake or malabsorption. A high level usually comes from over-supplementation and can cause hair loss, nail changes and nerve symptoms.
Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.
| Measure | Adult range (SI) |
|---|---|
| Selenium, serum | 0.8 to 1.9 µmol/L |
Ranges are guidance and vary by lab and region, since dietary selenium differs geographically. Cite your laboratory's reference interval.
Selenium status varies with regional diet, so reference ranges differ by country. Recent supplements raise levels. Contamination from non-trace-element-free tubes can falsely elevate results. A single value reflects recent intake more than long-term stores.
Read with thyroid markers (TSH, free T4) and other trace elements such as zinc when assessing nutritional status.
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