Adults who receive 200 μg of selenium daily from food supplements in addition to selenium from regular foods may exceed this tolerable upper intake level. Supplements containing 150 μg will provide a total selenium intake below this tolerable upper intake level.

VKM has assessed the intake of selenium in the Norwegian population and made scenario calculations to illustrate the consequences of changing the maximum limit for selenium in supplements to 50, 150 or 200 μg/day. Today's maximum limit is 100 μg/day.

Children and adolescents

The calculations also show that 13-year-olds and 9-year-olds may have daily intakes of selenium from supplements at 100 and 50 μg, respectively, without exceeding the tolerable upper intake levels. For 2- and 4-year-olds, 50 μg of selenium daily from food supplements may lead to exceedance of the tolerable upper intake levels.

VKM used the tolerable upper intake level of 300 μg/day for adults set by the Scientific Committee on Food in 2000.

VKM also used the levels proposed by the Scientific Committee on Food for children. They range from 60 μg of selenium per day in children from 1 to 3 years, to 250 μg selenium per day for children from 15 to 17 years.

The assessment is conducted by the Panel on Nutrition, Dietetic Products, Novel Food and Allergy.