TLDR Excessive selenium from a supplement caused toxicity but patients recovered with care.
In 2008, a case series of nine patients (5 males, 4 females, ages 15-57) revealed selenium toxicity due to a liquid nutritional supplement containing nearly 200 times the reported selenium amount. Symptoms, including alopecia, nail changes, gastrointestinal issues, and memory difficulties, appeared within 1 week of ingestion. The mean cumulative selenium dose was 1.3 grams over 37.5 days. Blood selenium levels ranged from 150 to 732 mcg/L, and urinary levels from 41 to 220 mcg/g Creat. All patients recovered with supportive care, highlighting the potential toxicity of excessive selenium intake.
29 citations,
February 2004 in “Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes” Men with early balding often have hormone levels similar to women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
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26 citations,
January 2018 in “Skin appendage disorders” Thallium, mercury, selenium, and colchicine strongly cause hair loss.
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