Indicator Explainer
Selenium
A nonmetallic chemical element found in trace amounts in human body. Selenium primarily occurs in vivo as selenocompounds, mostly selenoproteins such as glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase (enzymes responsible for detoxification). Alone or in combination with Vitamin E, selenocompounds act as antioxidants. These agents scavenge free radicals; prevent blood clots by inhibiting platelet aggregation; strengthen the immune system; and have been shown, in some instances, to inhibit chromosomal damage and mutations. Exhibiting chemopreventive activity, selenocompounds also inhibit the induction of protein kinase C.
This page explains what the indicator is and how results are interpreted in general terms. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the method, and your own situation — no single “normal value” applies to everyone. This page is health information, not a diagnosis. For symptoms, treatment, or urgent concerns, contact a healthcare professional.
When it is tested
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C825. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-19. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Reading results
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also Known As
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Selenium (C825)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C825. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- The association between prenatal maternal selenium concentration and mental health in early childhood, a mother-child cohort study. — PLoS One, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42853805; literature)
- Correction to: Effect of Administration of Selenium Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Onion Extract on Biochemical and Inflammatory Parameters in Mice Fed with High‑Fructose Diet: In Vivo and In Silico Analysis. — Biol Trace Elem Res, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42850435; literature)
- Synthesis of selenium particles using Durio zibethinus seed extract. — Discov Nano, 2026-10-15 (PMID 42878960; literature)
- Calculation and application of the selenium toxicity coefficient for potential ecological risk assessment. — PLoS One, 2026-10-14 (PMID 42873746; literature)
- An electrospun PCL/PVA-chitosan nanofiber scaffold loaded with selenium nanoparticles promotes antibacterial activity and accelerates wound healing: synthesis, characterization, and in-vivo evaluation. — Daru, 2026-10-17 (PMID 42891765; literature)
- Selenium-enhanced triple-ISC in computationally engineered methoxynaphthalene-Aza-BODIPYs for Type-I photosensitizer. — Chem Commun (Camb), 2026-10-15 (PMID 42771338; literature)
- First-trimester trace-element profiles in pregnant women with epilepsy: An exploratory prospective association between selenium and subsequent seizure recurrence. — Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 2026-10-30 (PMID 42958972; literature)
- Intranasal Mitochondria-Targeted Rosmarinic Acid Selenium Nanoparticles Restore Mitochondrial Function and Attenuate Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease. — ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2026-10-29 (PMID 42955076; literature)