Results The control subjects had a higher mean income and had completed more years of education compared with the RPL patients. There was no significant difference in the intake of selenium rich foods between the 2 groups. The patients, however, consumed significantly more fruit, cheese, potatoes and chocolate than the controls. The median (range) selenium content was 0.80 ppm (0.19–4.15) and 0.68 ppm (0.43–3.76) in patients and controls respectively (Mann Whitney U test 209.5 p = 0.74).