Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for selenium

Summary

The EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens conducted a systematic review to establish a tolerable upper intake level for selenium following a European Commission request. Based on evidence from the SELECT randomised controlled trial, with alopecia selected as the critical adverse endpoint, a UL of 255 μg/day was established for adults and proportionally scaled ULs for children. The Panel concluded that selenium intake from unfortified foods in European populations poses no concern, though regular consumption of Brazil nuts or high-dose selenium supplements may exceed the UL.

Regional applicability

This EFSA opinion directly applies to United Kingdom policy and practice, particularly relevant post-Brexit for establishing UK dietary reference values and food supplement regulations. The findings are based on systematic evidence review and European intake data, making them highly applicable to UK populations and regulators setting micronutrient guidance.

Key measures

Tolerable upper intake level (μg/day); lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL); uncertainty factor; selenium intake from food and supplements; alopecia incidence

Outcomes reported

The Panel established a tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 255 μg/day for selenium in adults based on alopecia as the critical adverse endpoint, derived from a randomised controlled trial with an uncertainty factor applied. ULs for children were derived using allometric scaling, and risk assessment was conducted across European populations including consideration of dietary and supplemental sources.

Supporting research

Sets the EU adult tolerable upper intake level for dietary selenium (255 µg/day), the reference against which selenium-biofortified fruit servings are judged.

Limits: A regulatory risk assessment of human selenium intake, not a crop or food-composition study; it does not measure selenium in any food.

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