The Claim

The adequate intake of selenium for infants aged 0–6 months is 15 micrograms per day, and for infants aged 7–12 months is 20 micrograms per day, established based on the selenium content in breast milk and extrapolation from maternal intake levels.

Source: Dietary Reference Intakes of Selenium for Chinese Residents.

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
47score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Description
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Infants under 6 months need 15 micrograms of selenium per day, and infants 7 to 12 months old need 20 micrograms per day, based on the amount of selenium found in breast milk and estimates from how much mothers consume.

See the scientific wording

The adequate intake of selenium for infants aged 0–6 months is set at 15 micrograms per day, and for infants aged 7–12 months at 20 micrograms per day, based on selenium content in breast milk and extrapolation from maternal intake levels.

Why this might work

Selenium from the mother’s diet enters her bloodstream, moves into her breast milk, and the baby gets all the selenium it needs by drinking that milk. The amount in the milk matches what the baby needs to grow, so babies under 6 months get 15 micrograms daily, and older babies need more because they drink more milk and start growing faster.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Dietary Reference Intakes of Selenium for Chinese Residents.

    The study says babies under 6 months need 15 micrograms of selenium a day, and babies 7–12 months need 20 micrograms — exactly what the claim says — because that’s what’s found in breast milk and what moms need to make enough for their babies.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.