In addition to the traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases it has been hypothesized that a suboptimal intake of macrominerals and trace elements plays a role in the etiology of such diseases. We studied the possible correlation between preatherosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries and the myocardial concentration of K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Se in an autopsy series of children who had died mainly from accidental causes (n = 58). The concentrations of myocardial elements were comparable to values published elsewhere except for a slightly higher Cu concentration. The myocardial Se concentration indicated an adequate Se status. Narrowing of the coronary artery lumen was not correlated with myocardial element concentration except in the case of Se, for which a positive correlation was found (r = 0.23, p less than 0.04). Myocardial K was positively correlated with myocardial Mg (r = 0.65, p less than 0.001) and inversely correlated with Ca (r = -0.50, p less than 0.001). The intake of saturated vs. unsaturated fats was associated with myocardial Cu and Ca concentrations. Our results suggest that myocardial macrominerals and trace elements do not play a role in juvenile preatherosclerotic changes of the arteries.