Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium Consumption and Markers of Glucose Metabolism in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Objective This was a cross-sectional study associating vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and potassium intakes with markers of glucose metabolism in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Methods HCHS/SOL is a multicenter, prospective, population-based cohort study on Hispanics/Latinos aged 18-74 years in the US. For this analysis, we included 10,609 participants who were free of diabetes. Analysis of covariance was used to assess associations of a range of micronutrient intake on the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and 2-hour post-oral glucose tolerance test (2h-plasma glucose) separately for normoglycemic and with pre-diabetes, after controlling for important confounders. All analyses accounted for the complex sample design and sampling weights. Results HOMA-IR levels were significantly lower among adults with intakes in the highest quartile for vitamin D, magnesium, and potassium compared to the respective lowest quartiles, for those with normoglycemia and pre-diabetes, even after adjusting for confounders, such as diet quality (p < 0.05). For those with pre-diabetes, HOMA-IR levels were also significantly lower for those in the highest quartile of calcium intake. However, 2h-plasma glucose was significantly higher in those with intakes higher than quartile 1 for vitamin D and calcium among those with normoglycemia and significantly higher in quartile 3 of potassium intake for those with pre-diabetes, p < 0.05. No significant associations were found for HbA1c in either group. Conclusions Higher consumption of vitamin D, magnesium, and potassium are associated with optimal levels of HOMA-IR among participants with normoglycemia and pre-diabetes.

Automated summary

This cross-sectional study examined the association between vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and potassium intakes and markers of glucose metabolism. The results showed that higher intakes of vitamin D, magnesium, and potassium were associated with lower levels of HOMA-IR in participants with normoglycemia and pre-diabetes. However, higher intakes of vitamin D and calcium were associated with higher 2-hour plasma glucose levels in normoglycemic individuals, and higher potassium intake was associated with higher 2-hour plasma glucose levels in pre-diabetic individuals.