Dietary Zinc and Vitamin D Intake and Diabetes Risk in Older U.S. Adults: NHANES 2017–2018
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Abstract
Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a leading chronic condition worldwide, affecting an estimated 537 million individuals between the ages of 20 and 79 years, equivalent to 10.5% of the world’s population. Micronutrients such as vitamin D and zinc have been suggested as potential modifiers of disease development; however, the literature often excludes older adults, resulting in limited data on their impact in this population.
Methods: We conducted a secondary cross-sectional analysis of the NHANES 2017–2018 dataset. Participants older than50 years were included based on self-reported diabetes status. Logistic regression models (univariate and multivariate) were used to assess associations between micronutrient intake and diabetes, adjusting for age, BMI, gender, race, educational level, physical activity, thyroid comorbidities, smoking, and fat and sugar intake.
Results: Of the 9,254 survey respondents, 1,172 met inclusion criteria. In univariate analysis, zinc intake (OR 0.98,95% CI 0.93–1.04,p=0.534) and vitamin D intake (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99–1.00,p=0.831) were not significantlyassociated with diabetes. In multivariate models, zinc (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.91–1.14,p=0.666) and vitamin D (OR 0.99,95% CI 0.99–1.00,p=0.360) remained nonsignificant. Significant predictors included older age (OR 1.06 per year, 95%CI 1.04–1.08,p<0.001), female gender (OR 0.47 vs. males, 95% CI 0.35–0.64,p<0.001), race (Mexican-American OR1.79, 95% CI 1.06–3.02, p=0.029; Non-Hispanic Black OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.10–2.34, p=0.014), higher BMI (OR 1.10per kg/m2, 95% CI 1.08–1.13,p<0.001), and lower educational attainment (college graduate OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33–0.84,p=0.007). The model demonstrated good discriminatory power (AUC = 0.73).
Conclusion: No significant association was found between dietary zinc or vitamin D intake and diabetes in adults aged50 years and older. Demographic and anthropometric factors such as age, gender, race, BMI, and education were stronglylinked to diabetes risk, with elevated risk observed among Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Blacks.