Selenium (Se) deficiency is said to contribute to the atrophy of the thyroid gland in certain endemic goiter areas in Africa. To test the hypothesis that, a low Se intake could protect against goiter development in autoimmune thyroiditis, we analysed the Se concentration in 20 patients with the atrophic variant of lymphocytic thyroiditis, 23 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 23 patients with non-toxic nodular (colloid) goiter. Twenty healthy females served as controls. We did not find any significant difference in serum selenium (S-Se) levels between the patients with the various thyroid disorders or between patients and controls. There was no difference in the S-Se concentration and the triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyrotropin (TSH) or thyroglobulin concentrations in serum. Thus, the Se status had no impact on the development of goiter.