Nutrient Reference Values - Public Consultation on Draft Recommendations - Selenium

Overview

NHMRC is inviting feedback on updated Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) for selenium, to be included in the Nutrient Reference Values Australia and New Zealand.

What are Nutrient Reference Values?

The Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) are evidence-based guidelines that describe how much of each nutrient – like selenium - people should consume to stay healthy. By providing a scientific foundation for both individual nutrition and public health decision making, NRVs help to improve the overall health of the population and reduce the burden of diet-related diseases in Australia and New Zealand.

Why have the selenium NRVs been reviewed?

Selenium is a trace mineral that our bodies need in small amounts to stay healthy. It helps protect our cells, supports our immune system, and is important for thyroid health. Not getting enough selenium can lead to health problems affecting the heart, muscles, joints, and immune system. However, having too much selenium can also be harmful. That’s why it’s important to have the right balance of selenium in the diet.

The original NRVs for selenium were published in 2006. Since that time, new scientific evidence has emerged on selenium toxicity. International nutrient reference values, and NHMRC water quality guidelines for selenium have been updated based on more recent evidence, highlighting the need to reassess the adequacy of existing Upper Level (UL) recommendations for selenium.

How were the recommendations developed?

The review of selenium NRVs was guided by the 2025 NRV Methodological Framework and NHMRC Standards for Guidelines. NHMRC used an adopt/adapt approach, updating the upper level (UL) for selenium based on the 2023 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations. It considered evidence from a range of sources, including published primary studies, Australian and New Zealand population data, and advice published by key international bodies. The various evidence sources were summarised and synthesised in an Evidence Summary Report. The report also includes an Evidence-to-Decision framework, documenting how the evidence was weighed and considered when arriving at the final recommendations.

A Steering Group Advisory Committee — comprised of experts in selenium, nutrition, micronutrients, end user needs, toxicology, public health, research, chronic disease and macronutrients/total diet — advised on the conduct of the review, final recommendations, and methods for deriving NRVs.

What has changed with the revised selenium NRVs?

Upper Level (UL) recommendations for adults (including during pregnancy and breastfeeding), children, and adolescents have been reviewed. Infant NRVs have not been reviewed at this time and will be the subject of a separate review in due course.

The current recommendations for selenium comprise:

• Estimated Average Requirements (EAR), Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) and Adequate Intake (AI) for achieving nutritional adequacy and preventing selenium deficiency.
• Upper Levels (UL) that should not be exceeded to prevent harmful effects from excess selenium.

The main changes proposed relate to the UL, with the EAR, RDI and AI unchanged, including:

• reduced UL recommendations for most age groups.

The draft recommendations also include recommendations for additional categories of age groupings for children, aligned with school level, which facilitate comparison against intakes reported in national surveys. A slight adjustment to adult age groups is also proposed, aligned with Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting.

Further information

For further information on NRVs and the updated selenium recommendations, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

How can I make a submission?

Submissions should be made via the online form.

The form invites responses on questions covering a range of topics and provides space for additional comments. This is an opportunity to provide any additional feedback not covered in the consultation questions.  

You do not have to respond to all questions. Please focus on the topics of most interest to you and/or your organisation.

The closing date for submissions is 18 March 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Please see below for a downloadable version of the draft recommendations, together with the frequently asked questions and draft Evidence Summary report. You may choose to open any document or link in a new tab by right clicking and selecting "Open link in new tab". 

If you experience any difficulty accessing a document or require content in an alternative format, please contact us at web.request@nhmrc.gov.au for assistance.

Why your views matter

The information provided during this consultation will help us to understand whether our guidance has considered all relevant factors and is appropriate and implementable. Your feedback will help to improve our recommendations about selenium requirements, ensuring that it is as relevant and user-friendly as possible.