Association of multiple mineral and vitamin B group intake with blood glucose using quantile regression analysis: NHANES 2007–2014

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycaemia and diabetes have become major public health problems worldwide. There is increasing evidence that minerals and the vitamin B group might play specific roles in hyperglycaemia and the pathogenesis and progression of diabetes or metabolic complications. OBJECTIVES: The main aim of this study is to investigate the effect of mineral and vitamin B group supplementation on the blood glucose levels of different populations. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2014 were used in this study. A total of 8,322 participants (4,169 men and 4,153 women) were included in the study. Quantile regression (QR) was performed to identify the influence of mineral and vitamin B group intake on the level of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in individuals in different quantiles of FPG. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, income, education, race, smoking, and alcohol consumption, FPG had a negative association with folic acid in individuals with normal or high FPG, with calcium in individuals with normal FPG, and with magnesium in males. FPG was negatively associated with folic acid and calcium in individuals with normal FPG, and magnesium in most of the quantiles for females. DISCUSSION: Hyperglycaemia and diabetes are currently becoming popular research topics. However, little is known about how the whole continuum of blood glucose is associated with commonly researched nutrient supplementation in terms of hyperglycaemia and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The intake of calcium, folic acid and magnesium was negatively associated with blood glucose levels in individuals in different quantiles of FPG. Appropriate prevention and treatment strategies should be developed for people with different blood glucose levels.