Selenium for Vaccine Response Support
C Some Evidence Limited evidence from small studies, but some positive signals exist.Adequate selenium status is associated with enhanced natural killer cell activity and improved vaccine response, particularly in elderly populations. Supplementation in deficient individuals may help restore optimal immune responses to vaccination.
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C
The Bottom Line
Adequate selenium status is associated with enhanced natural killer cell activity and improved vaccine response, particularly in elderly populations. Supplementation in deficient individuals may help restore optimal immune responses to vaccination.
Key Study Findings
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
n=7014
Trace Elements and Risk of Immune-Mediated Skin Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Dose: None
vs: Placebo
Effect: Standardized mean differences reported for each element and disease combination (specific values not
None
Review
A scoping review: the impact of nutritional status on the efficacy, effectiveness, and immunogenicity of …
Dose: None
vs: None
Outcome: None
Effect: None
None
Population: Scoping review: nutritional status and COVID-19 vaccine
Review
Potential Applications and Risks of Supranutritional Selenium Supplementation in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A …
Dose: None
vs: None
Outcome: MASLD treatment and prevention
Effect: None
None
Population: Patients with metabolic steatotic liver disease (review)
Observational Study
n=44
Unveiling the micronutrient-immunity puzzle in inactivated COVID-19 vaccination: A comprehensive analysis of circulating micronutrient levels …
Dose: Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, vitamins A, D, E (measured)
vs: Pre-vaccination vs post-booster
Outcome: Antibody response association with micronutrients
Effect: None
None
Population: Healthy adults post-COVID-19 vaccination
Other
Novel selenium-enriched Pichia kudriavzevii as a dietary supplement to alleviate dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in …
Dose: None
vs: None
Outcome: Colitis severity
Effect: None
None
Population: Mouse model
Other
Effect of parenteral micronutrient supplementation at birth on immunity, growth, and health in preweaning dairy …
Dose: 4 g
vs: None
Outcome: Oxidative stress markers
Effect: None
None
Population: None
Key Statistics
5
Studies
400
Participants
↑
Positive
C
Grade
Referenced Papers
Nutrients
2025
3 citations
Tropical diseases, travel …
2025
1 citations
Trace Elements and Risk of Immune-Mediated Skin Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Meta-Analysis
Nutrition reviews
2025
Food & function
2024
6 citations
Journal of dairy …
2024
4 citations
Journal of medical …
2024
Selenium and immune function: a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental human studies.
Meta-Analysis
The American journal …
2023
57 citations
Selenium status and immunity.
Systematic Review
The Proceedings of …
2023
27 citations
European thyroid journal
2023
4 citations
Nutrients
2022
5 citations
Clinical nutrition ESPEN
2021
27 citations
BMC veterinary research
2021
24 citations
Physiological reports
2021
3 citations
Biological trace element …
2020
10 citations
Biological trace element …
2015
1 citations
Annual review of …
2014
9 citations
International journal of …
2013
104 citations
European journal of …
2012
225 citations
Minerva urologica e …
2012
Current opinion in …
2010
18 citations
Journal of the …
2010
11 citations
Archives of internal …
2007
8 citations
Dosage & Usage
mg = milligrams · mcg = micrograms (1,000× smaller) · IU = International Units
Commonly Used Dosages
- general:
- 55 mcg/day
- immunesupport:
- 100-200 mcg/day
Upper limit: 400 mcg/day
Dosages Studied in Research
| Dosage | Duration | Effect | N |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | -- | Mixed | 7014 |
| None | -- | Mixed | -- |
| None | -- | Mixed | -- |
| Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, vitamins A, D, E (measured) | -- | Positive | 44 |
| None | -- | Positive | -- |
| 4 g | -- | Positive | -- |
| Selenium supplement (dose not specified) | -- | Neutral | 105 |
| Various inorganic and organic selenium forms; dose-response assessed via plasma selenium concentrati | -- | Mixed | -- |
Best taken: With meals
Safety & Side Effects
Reported Side Effects
- ⚠ Selenosis at chronic high doses (hair loss, nail brittleness, garlic breath odor)
- ⚠ Nausea and diarrhea
- ⚠ Fatigue and irritability
- ⚠ Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) at very high chronic doses
Known Interactions
- ● Cisplatin and other chemotherapy agents (selenium may modify effects)
- ● Statins (selenium may affect cholesterol metabolism)
- ● Birth control pills (may lower selenium levels)
- ● Gold salts (mutual reduction of effectiveness)
Tolerable upper intake: 400 mcg/day
Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Selenium help with Vaccine Response Support?
Based on 5 studies with 400 participants, there is limited but promising evidence that Selenium may support Vaccine Response Support management. Our evidence grade is C (Some Evidence).
How much Selenium should I take for Vaccine Response Support?
Studies have used various dosages. A commonly studied range is 55 mcg/day. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.
Are there side effects of Selenium?
Reported side effects may include Selenosis at chronic high doses (hair loss, nail brittleness, garlic breath odor), Nausea and diarrhea, Fatigue and irritability, Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) at very high chronic doses. Most side effects are mild and dose-dependent. Consult your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions.
How strong is the evidence for Selenium and Vaccine Response Support?
We rate the evidence as Grade C (Some Evidence). This rating is based on 5 peer-reviewed studies with 400 total participants. The overall direction of effect is positive.
References
- [1] Chuanming Liu et al.. Nutrients. 2025. Potential Applications and Risks of Supranutritional Selenium Supplementation in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Critical Review. doi:10.3390/nu17152484 PubMed
- [2] Vicka Oktaria et al.. Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines. 2025. A scoping review: the impact of nutritional status on the efficacy, effectiveness, and immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines. doi:10.1186/s40794-025-00258-z PubMed
- [3] Xinyi Shao et al.. Nutr Rev. 2025. Trace Elements and Risk of Immune-Mediated Skin Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuaf015 PubMed
- [4] Huijuan Wang et al.. Food Funct. 2024. Novel selenium-enriched Pichia kudriavzevii as a dietary supplement to alleviate dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice by modulating the gut … doi:10.1039/d4fo02598a PubMed
- [5] Hannah Carlson et al.. J Dairy Sci. 2024. Effect of parenteral micronutrient supplementation at birth on immunity, growth, and health in preweaning dairy heifers. doi:10.3168/jds.2023-24292 PubMed
- [6] Huicui Meng et al.. J Med Virol. 2024. Unveiling the micronutrient-immunity puzzle in inactivated COVID-19 vaccination: A comprehensive analysis of circulating micronutrient levels and humoral responses in healthy … doi:10.1002/jmv.29611 PubMed
- [7] Tommaso Filippini et al.. Am J Clin Nutr. 2023. Selenium and immune function: a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental human studies. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.11.007 PubMed
- [8] Susan J Fairweather-Tait et al.. Proc Nutr Soc. 2023. Selenium status and immunity. doi:10.1017/S0029665122002658 PubMed
- [9] Liliana Ribeiro Santos et al.. Eur Thyroid J. 2023. Survey on selenium clinical supplementation in autoimmune thyroid disease. doi:10.1530/ETJ-22-0090 PubMed
- [10] Tsuyoshi Chiba et al.. Nutrients. 2022. The Perception of Minerals and Their Prevalence in Fortified Foods and Supplements in Japan. doi:10.3390/nu14132586 PubMed
- [11] Mette M Berger et al.. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2021. Strengthening the immunity of the Swiss population with micronutrients: A narrative review and call for action. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.03.012 PubMed
- [12] Olla A Khalifa et al.. BMC Vet Res. 2021. The impact of vitamin E and/or selenium dietary supplementation on growth parameters and expression levels of the growth-related genes in … doi:10.1186/s12917-021-02963-1 PubMed
- [13] Thomas Castel et al.. Physiol Rep. 2021. Can selenium-enriched spirulina supplementation ameliorate sepsis outcomes in selenium-deficient animals? doi:10.14814/phy2.14933 PubMed
- [14] Akram Zarbalizadeh-Saed et al.. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020. Effect of Slow-Release Pellets of Selenium and Iodine on Performance and Some Blood Metabolites of Pregnant Moghani Ewes and Their … doi:10.1007/s12011-019-01853-w PubMed
- [15] Mahmood Habibian et al.. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2015. Selenium as a feed supplement for heat-stressed poultry: a review. doi:10.1007/s12011-015-0275-x PubMed
- [16] Goutham Vemana et al.. Annu Rev Med. 2014. Chemoprevention of prostate cancer. doi:10.1146/annurev-med-121211-091759 PubMed
- [17] Priya Batra et al.. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013. Probing Lingzhi or Reishi medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (higher Basidiomycetes): a bitter mushroom with amazing health benefits. doi:10.1615/intjmedmushr.v15.i2.20 PubMed
- [18] Nils Hovdenak et al.. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2012. Influence of mineral and vitamin supplements on pregnancy outcome. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2012.06.020 PubMed
- [19] B J Schmitz-Dräger et al.. Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2012. Prevention strategies for prostate cancer. PubMed
- [20] Peter J D Andrews. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2010. Selenium and glutamine supplements: where are we heading? A critical care perspective. doi:10.1097/MCO.0b013e32833617cd PubMed
- [21] Linda A Linday. J Am Coll Nutr. 2010. Cod liver oil, young children, and upper respiratory tract infections. doi:10.1080/07315724.2010.10719894 PubMed
- [22] Catherine Passaretti et al.. Arch Intern Med. 2007. Selenium and HIV-1: hope or hype? doi:10.1001/archinte.167.22.2530-b PubMed
FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and information on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The evidence grades presented are based on our analysis of published peer-reviewed research and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.