Association of dietary calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D with type 2 diabetes among US adults: National health and nutrition examination survey 2007–2014—A cross-sectional study

Higher dietary intake of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and vitamin D has been associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and a higher intracellular ratio of Ca to Mg leads to insulin resistance. Previous epidemiological studies did not examine the combined effects of dietary Ca, Mg, and vitamin D as well as ratio of Ca to Mg with T2DM. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between dietary intakes of Mg, Ca, and vitamin D (using 24-hr recalls) individually and in composite and T2DM in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2014, which involved 20,480 adults (9,977 men and 10,503 women) with comprehensive information on related nutrients, and anthropometric, demographic, and biomarker variables using multivariable logistic regression. The results indicated that dietary calcium at Q3 (812 mg/day) was significantly linked with T2DM in women (OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.65). Dietary vitamin D at Q3 (5.25 μg/day) significantly reduced the odds of T2DM by 21% in men (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.98). This is an interesting study that has important implications for dietary recommendations. It is concluded that US adults having dietary Ca below the RDA were associated with increased risk of T2DM in all population and women, while higher ratio of Ca to Mg was associated with increased risk of T2DM in all population and increased vitamin D intake is related to decreased risk of T2DM in men. Moreover, further research is needed to make more definitive nutritional recommendations.