Multivitamin and Selenium: Can You Take Them Together?

Use caution — significant interaction

Multivitamin and Selenium can interact. Where both products contain selenium, the combined amount can approach or pass the upper limit. Long-term excess causes selenosis: hair and nail loss, garlic breath, skin and nerve symptoms. Check the selenium content of both labels and add them. Keep the total from supplements and diet at or below 255 mcg a day, the EU upper limit. Most people with an adequate diet do not need a standalone selenium supplement on top of a multivitamin that already contains selenium.

What the evidence says

majorconflict· strong evidence

Where both products contain selenium, the combined amount can approach or pass the upper limit. Long-term excess causes selenosis: hair and nail loss, garlic breath, skin and nerve symptoms.

Multivitamins contain anything from no selenium to 200 mcg, and a standalone selenium supplement adds more, so the total depends on both labels. The adult upper limit is 255 mcg a day in the EU (EFSA 2023) and 400 mcg a day in the US.

What to do: Check the selenium content of both labels and add them. Keep the total from supplements and diet at or below 255 mcg a day, the EU upper limit. Most people with an adequate diet do not need a standalone selenium supplement on top of a multivitamin that already contains selenium.

Dose matters: Combined selenium from all sources above 255 mcg a day (EU) or 400 mcg a day (US). Minimal risk: A selenium-free multivitamin, or a combined total well within the upper limit.

Multivitamin

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Selenium

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Frequently asked questions

Can you take Multivitamin and Selenium together?: Multivitamin and Selenium can interact. Where both products contain selenium, the combined amount can approach or pass the upper limit. Long-term excess causes selenosis: hair and nail loss, garlic breath, skin and nerve symptoms. Check the selenium content of both labels and add them. Keep the total from supplements and diet at or below 255 mcg a day, the EU upper limit. Most people with an adequate diet do not need a standalone selenium supplement on top of a multivitamin that already contains selenium.
Do Multivitamin and Selenium interact?: Where both products contain selenium, the combined amount can approach or pass the upper limit. Long-term excess causes selenosis: hair and nail loss, garlic breath, skin and nerve symptoms. Multivitamins contain anything from no selenium to 200 mcg, and a standalone selenium supplement adds more, so the total depends on both labels. The adult upper limit is 255 mcg a day in the EU (EFSA 2023) and 400 mcg a day in the US.
Should you separate Multivitamin and Selenium?: Check the selenium content of both labels and add them. Keep the total from supplements and diet at or below 255 mcg a day, the EU upper limit. Most people with an adequate diet do not need a standalone selenium supplement on top of a multivitamin that already contains selenium.

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.

What the evidence says

majorconflict· strong evidence

Where both products contain selenium, the combined amount can approach or pass the upper limit. Long-term excess causes selenosis: hair and nail loss, garlic breath, skin and nerve symptoms.

Dose matters: Combined selenium from all sources above 255 mcg a day (EU) or 400 mcg a day (US). Minimal risk: A selenium-free multivitamin, or a combined total well within the upper limit.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take Multivitamin and Selenium together?

Do Multivitamin and Selenium interact?

Where both products contain selenium, the combined amount can approach or pass the upper limit. Long-term excess causes selenosis: hair and nail loss, garlic breath, skin and nerve symptoms. Multivitamins contain anything from no selenium to 200 mcg, and a standalone selenium supplement adds more, so the total depends on both labels. The adult upper limit is 255 mcg a day in the EU (EFSA 2023) and 400 mcg a day in the US.

Should you separate Multivitamin and Selenium?

Check the selenium content of both labels and add them. Keep the total from supplements and diet at or below 255 mcg a day, the EU upper limit. Most people with an adequate diet do not need a standalone selenium supplement on top of a multivitamin that already contains selenium.