Sodium Selenate vs. Sodium Selenite
Among 4,693 on-market selenium products with an identifiable primary form, 14% use Sodium Selenate (657 products) and 11.3% use Sodium Selenite (528).
| Sodium Selenate | Sodium Selenite | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality tier | Tier 2 | Tier 2 |
| Selenium by weight | 21.4% | 45.7% |
| Share of market | 14% | 11.3% |
| On-market products | 657 | 528 |
| Median declared dose | 55 elemental mcg middle half: 20–100 | 50 elemental mcg middle half: 19.25–70 |
| Most common brands | 21st Century, Vitamin World, Nature's Way | Wonder Laboratories, DC, SmartyPants |
Doses are declared per serving in elemental mcg. “By weight” is the share of the ingredient that is the nutrient itself (e.g. elemental magnesium in a magnesium salt).
Why Sodium Selenate is tier 2
Inorganic selenate is well absorbed but, like selenite, less well retained in tissue than organic selenomethionine per general bioavailability literature.
Source: uncertain -- needs review for a direct comparative citation
Why Sodium Selenite is tier 2
Well absorbed (~80%) but less well retained than organic selenomethionine per comparative bioavailability reviews.
Source: Fairweather-Tait SJ et al., selenium bioavailability review, Am J Clin Nutr -- specific comparative % vs selenate not independently re-verified