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Background: Selenium deficiency is implicated in the etiology of endemic juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy in China, and in sporadic cases in other countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of selenium deficiency in the pathophysiology of dilated cardiomyopathy in the Saudi Arabian population. Patients and Methods: Plasma and urine selenium concentrations from 72 Saudi patients with confirmed dilated cardiomyopathy were compared with corresponding values from 70 control subjects of the same national origin who had normal ventricular function. Results: Plasma and urine selenium concentrations (mean±SD) were 1.34±0.45 and 0.49±0.37 μmol/L, respectively, for the patient group, and 1.32±0.41 and 0.60±0.41 μmol/L, respectively, for the control group. The differences in the values between the two groups were statistically insignificant. Conclusion:In the Saudi population, dilated cardiomyopathy is not caused by selenium deficiency.