CompoAtlas

Selenium in food supplements

8,311 supplements declared in France contain a form of this nutrient

Selenium: in France, a food supplement may not provide more than 50 µg a day (Order of 9 May 2006, not revised since November 2006, Annex III); for adults, EFSA's upper safe limit is 255 µg a day. The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).

Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Written Question No 2686, ministry answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025.

What we know about this ingredient

Associated research

ClinicalTrials.gov · A trial is not proof: it tests a hypothesis.

2026-11-01

In plain words

À quoi il sert, selon les fabricants

Objectifs les plus souvent annoncés pour les compléments qui en contiennent (sélénium) : cheveux et ongles (1301 produits), immunité (1203 produits), peau (1066 produits), antioxydant (1016 produits), sport (351 produits).

Ce sont les objectifs déclarés par les fabricants à l'administration, pas des effets démontrés. Sur l'emballage, seules les allégations de santé autorisées par l'Union peuvent être écrites.

Compl'Alim, food supplement declarations (France), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Jusqu'où c'est sûr

Pour un adulte, l'EFSAEuropean Food Safety Authority. fixe la limite supérieure de sécurité à 255 µg/j : c'est l'apport quotidien qui, pris sur le long terme, toutes sources alimentaires réunies, ne devrait pas provoquer d'effet indésirable. Au-delà, le risque augmente. Un complément n'est qu'une partie de l'apport.

EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

La règle en France

En France, la dose journalière recommandée d'un complément ne doit pas apporter plus de 50 µg (arrêté du 9 mai 2006, non révisé depuis novembre 2006). Compl'Alim ne publie pas la dose des produits déclarés : comparez celle de l'étiquette à ce plafond et à la limite de sécurité de l'EFSA.

French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

EFSA safety references

Le repère de l'EFSA porte sur l'apport total d'une journée, alimentation et compléments.

EFSA daily references
PopulationTypeValue
4-6 monthsUpper limit45 µg/j
7-11 monthsUpper limit55 µg/j
1-3 yearsUpper limit70 µg/j
4-6 yearsUpper limit95 µg/j
7-10 yearsUpper limit130 µg/j
11-14 yearsUpper limit180 µg/j
15-17 yearsUpper limit230 µg/j
adultsUpper limit255 µg/j
pregnancyUpper limit255 µg/j
breastfeedingUpper limit255 µg/j

EFSA NDA Panel, 2023c. EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Maximum dose in France

Maximum daily dose per supplement in France: 50 µg, according to the Order of 9 May 2006.

The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).

Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Where to find it in food

Selected everyday foods, ranked by decreasing content across all confidence levels. Each value is at least one tenth of the maximum among the foods examined. Content varies with the food and preparation.

Content per 100 g of edible portion
FoodContentUnitCiqual confidence code
Brazil nut, no added salt103µgD (low)
Tuna, roasted or oven-baked81.2µgA (high)
Mussel, boiled55.7µgA (high)
Mackerel, roasted or oven-baked51.6µgD (low)
Herring, grilled or pan-fried46µgD (low)
Calf liver, cooked40.9µgA (high)
Sardine, grilled or pan-fried38µgD (low)

The Ciqual code indicates confidence in each value: A high, B good, C moderate, D low (a less certain value).

ANSES, Ciqual table 2025, published on 19 November 2025. Licence Ouverte 2.0.

Authorised health claims

  • « Selenium contributes to normal spermatogenesis »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of selenium as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of selenium as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal nails »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of selenium as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Selenium contributes to the normal function of the immune system »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of selenium as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Selenium contributes to the normal thyroid function »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of selenium as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Selenium contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of selenium as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
3 refused or revoked claims: they cannot appear on packaging
  • « - Selenium for a healthy prostate - Selenium is beneficial for prostate health »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Selenium is necessary for normal cardiovascular function. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, the evidence provided is insufficient to substantiate this claimed effect for this food.
  • « Selenium supports better brain functioning »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.

Official English text, as entered in the Union register. A claim may only be used under its conditions.

6 authorised claims, 3 refused or revoked. EU Register of nutrition and health claims, retrieved 21 October 2026.

Forms declared in supplements

Union list: vitamin and mineral forms that may be used in a food supplement (Directive 2002/46/EC, Annex II).

Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements, latest consolidated version (Annex II: forms of vitamins and minerals), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Products containing it