EXPLORE A NUTRIENT
Selenium, Se
Discover how amounts vary across foods, on a shared basis for comparison.
Understand this nutrient ↓What is it?
The element Se is reported in µg; its amount does not identify a particular compound. [1] [2]
An identity reference, not the appearance of the food.
Description, source and attribution
Element Se, atomic number 34. The graphic does not assign an oxidation state or compound to the food measurement.
Original Bitameans element graphic; symbol and atomic number from PubChem. Source · Reuse terms
Source check:
A COMMON BASIS
Foods, per 100 g
168 foods with data 38 not reported, excluded from ranking
- Brazil nuts
Nuts, brazilnuts, dried, unblanched, exactly as identified by USDA.
1,917 µg - Oysters
Mollusks, oyster, Pacific, cooked, moist heat, exactly as identified by USDA.
154 µg - Blue mussels
Blue mussels, cooked with moist heat.
89.6 µg - Octopus
Mollusks, octopus, common, cooked, moist heat, exactly as identified by USDA.
89.6 µg - Northern lobster
Crustaceans, lobster, northern, cooked, moist heat, exactly as identified by USDA.
73.1 µg - Canned light tuna
Light tuna canned in water, drained solids; not specified as no-salt-added.
67.8 µg - Clams
Mollusks, clam, mixed species, cooked, moist heat, exactly as identified by USDA.
64 µg - Halibut
Fish, halibut, Atlantic and Pacific, cooked, dry heat, exactly as identified by USDA.
55.4 µg - Tilapia
Tilapia cooked with dry heat; added salt/fat not specified.
54.4 µg - Canned sardines
Atlantic sardines canned in oil, drained solids with bone.
52.7 µg - Squid
Mollusks, squid, mixed species, cooked, fried, exactly as identified by USDA.
51.8 µg - Atlantic mackerel
Fish, mackerel, Atlantic, cooked, dry heat, exactly as identified by USDA.
51.6 µg
All results are sorted before pagination. Bars compare amounts within this search; they do not indicate health benefits. Not reported does not mean zero.
UNDERSTAND THE DATA
The nutrient, in context
How to read this ranking
This page compares Selenium, Se (Selenium, Se), in µg per 100 g of food.
Chemical forms and measurement methods remain separate. “Not reported” means a value is unavailable, not that the food contains zero. A food’s rank does not determine your individual needs or diagnose a deficiency.
This NIH fact sheet concerns this nutrient. Its recommended amounts describe daily intake for the stated population, not a 100 g food portion. Keep food and supplement exposure separate as the source specifies.
NIH · OFFICE OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
Selenium: Fact Sheet for Consumers
Original text published by NIH, including intake tables by age and sex, cautions, and the population context the source states. Bitameans has not performed an independent medical review or adapted these recommendations to your personal circumstances.
What is selenium and what does it do?
Selenium is a nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. Your thyroid gland needs selenium to produce hormones and function properly. Selenium is also needed for reproduction, to make DNA, to help protect cells, and to resist infection.
How much selenium do I need?
The amount of selenium that you need each day depends on your age. Average daily recommended amounts are listed below in micrograms (mcg).
| Life Stage | Recommended Amount |
|---|---|
| Birth to 6 months | 15 mcg |
| Infants 7–12 months |
Identity and structure sources
- PubChem Periodic Table of Elements · Accessed 2026-09-13
- USDA FoodData Central: Foundation Foods Documentation · Accessed 2026-09-13