Why do some Brazilians get more selenium than others?
Selenium intake, food sources, and associated factors in Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil): a cross-sectional study
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Alcohol drinkers consumed 4.38 μg/day more selenium than non-drinkers.
Most assume alcohol depletes nutrients, but here it’s linked to higher intake—likely because drinkers consume more meat and fish, not because alcohol itself provides selenium.
Practical Takeaways
Add a small handful of Brazil nuts (2–3) to your daily snack—just one provides over 100% of your daily selenium.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Alcohol drinkers consumed 4.38 μg/day more selenium than non-drinkers.
Most assume alcohol depletes nutrients, but here it’s linked to higher intake—likely because drinkers consume more meat and fish, not because alcohol itself provides selenium.
Practical Takeaways
Add a small handful of Brazil nuts (2–3) to your daily snack—just one provides over 100% of your daily selenium.
Publication
Journal
São Paulo Medical Journal
Year
2025
Authors
Elen Cintia Vale Pedro, J. Levy, D. Marchioni, I. Benseñor
Related Content
Claims (6)
Selenium is a mineral found in certain foods such as organ meats, seafood, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and cruciferous vegetables.
In Brazilian adults, the majority of selenium intake comes from nuts, cooked fish, and boneless meat, with nuts providing nearly 29% of total selenium consumption.
In Brazilian adults, people who consume more selenium tend to be women, older than 60, have higher income or education, drink alcohol, or engage in regular physical activity. People who consume less selenium tend to have non-white skin color or smoke.
In Brazil, people with lower income and non-white skin color tend to consume less selenium in their diet than those with higher income and white skin color, which may increase their risk of not getting enough of this essential nutrient.
In Brazil, people who currently smoke consume about 7.77 micrograms less selenium per day than those who have never smoked or have quit, suggesting their diet tends to include less selenium-rich foods.