Acute Selenium Toxicity Associated With a Dietary Supplement
February 2010
in “
Archives of Internal Medicine
”
New to Selenium? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary This study identified that high concentrations of selenium in a liquid dietary supplement caused a widespread outbreak of poisoning, revealing the importance of stricter manufacturing standards.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The study investigated an outbreak of acute selenium poisoning due to a dietary supplement from "Company A" that contained 200 times the labeled selenium concentration, affecting 201 individuals across 10 states. Symptoms included diarrhea (78%), fatigue (75%), hair loss (72%), and nail discoloration (61%), with a median selenium dose of 41,749 μg/day, far exceeding the recommended 55 μg/day. One person was hospitalized, but no deaths occurred. Hair loss was significant, with 18% experiencing complete scalp hair loss and 1% total body hair loss. The outbreak was traced to a manufacturing error, emphasizing the need for stricter manufacturing standards and quality control in the dietary supplement industry. Symptoms persisted for up to 90 days, highlighting the importance of patients informing healthcare providers about all supplements they are taking.
