Purpose: To evaluate the associations between calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper intakes and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in US diabetes adults.
Methods: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018. Multivariable logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline models were applied to examine the associations between total calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper intakes and diabetic retinopathy.
Results: A total of 3794 adults aged 40 years or older were included. Higher quartile intake of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper was associated with a lower occurrence of DR, the multivariate adjusted ORs (95% CI) were 0.57 (0.38-0.86), 0.48 (0.32-0.73), 0.58 (0.39-0.88), and 0.48 (0.30-0.77), respectively. U-shaped dose-response relationships were found between calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper intake, and the risk of DR.
Conclusion: Higher total calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper intake were inversely associated with the risk of DR in US diabetes adults.
Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy; calcium; copper; magnesium; zinc.