Abstract
Background: Micronutrients are considered to have an important role in metabolic process. The relationships between micronutrients and diabetic complication, such as retinopathy, are rarely discussed. The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between dietary micronutrients and diabetic retinopathy in an adult population. Methods: 5321 participants from National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2008 were included in this cross-sectional study. Diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed by the severity scale of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) using nonmydriatic fundus photography. Micronutrients were assessed by 24-h dietary recall. The relationship between dietary micronutrients and the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy was analyzed by a logistic regression model. Results: Dietary calcium and potassium were inversely associated with diabetic retinopathy (OR: 0.729, 95%CI: 0.562–0.945; OR: 0.875, 95%CI: 0.787–0.973). Higher quartile of dietary calcium and potassium was associated with lower occurrence of diabetic retinopathy (OR: 0.664, 95%CI: 0.472–0.933; OR: 0.700, 95%CI: 0.495–0.989). Furthermore, increased amounts of dietary calcium and potassium were significantly associated with reduced occurrence of diabetic retinopathy (OR: 0.701, 95%CI: 0.546–0.900; OR: 0.761, 95%CI: 0.596–0.972). Conclusions: Higher levels of dietary calcium and potassium are suggested to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy with dose–response effect. The evaluation of dietary micronutrients might be a part of treatment for patients with diabetic complications.
Highlights
Micronutrients are groups of essential dietary elements, including vitamins and trace minerals, required by the human body in varying quantities to regulate physiological processes to maintain body functions and health [1]
We found that dietary calcium and potassium are significantly associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy
As far as we know, the current study was the first to investigate the relationship between dietary micronutrients and diabetic retinopathy in a cross-sectional study composed of a United States adult population
Summary
Micronutrients are groups of essential dietary elements, including vitamins and trace minerals, required by the human body in varying quantities to regulate physiological processes to maintain body functions and health [1]. The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between dietary micronutrients and diabetic retinopathy in an adult population. The relationship between dietary micronutrients and the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy was analyzed by a logistic regression model. Results: Dietary calcium and potassium were inversely associated with diabetic retinopathy (OR: 0.729, 95%CI: 0.562–0.945; OR: 0.875, 95%CI: 0.787–0.973). Higher quartile of dietary calcium and potassium was associated with lower occurrence of diabetic retinopathy (OR: 0.664, 95%CI: 0.472–0.933; OR: 0.700, 95%CI: 0.495–0.989). Increased amounts of dietary calcium and potassium were significantly associated with reduced occurrence of diabetic retinopathy (OR: 0.701, 95%CI: 0.546–0.900; OR: 0.761, 95%CI: 0.596–0.972). Conclusions: Higher levels of dietary calcium and potassium are suggested to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy with dose–response effect. The evaluation of dietary micronutrients might be a part of treatment for patients with diabetic complications
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