Nonlinear associations between dietary zinc intake and cardiovascular disease risk, a National cross-sectional study based on the NHANES 2005-2018.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the associations between dietary zinc intake and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary heart disease (CHD), angina, heart attack, and cerebrovascular accident (CVA), this study was performed.

SETTING

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2018) were used in this study. Dietary zinc intake was stratified into quartiles. Restricted cubic splines were constructed to assess nonlinear associations and identify cut-off values based on the type of nonlinearity. Binary logistic regressions were performed using the cut-offs.

RESULTS

Positive associations were detected between the second, third, and fourth quantiles of dietary zinc intake and decreased risks of overall CVDs (Q2: OR = 0.83, 95 % CI = 0.72-0.96; Q3: OR = 0.83, 95 % CI = 0.71-0.96; Q4: OR = 0.79, 95 % CI = 0.67-0.93). The second, third, and fourth quantiles were significantly associated with decreased risks of various CVDs (all  < 0.05), except for CHD and angina (all  > 0.05). Restricted cubic spline regression revealed significant nonlinear trends for associations of dietary zinc intake with the risk of developing CVDs and CHF (both for nonlinear <0.05), whereas those for heart attack and CVA were marginally significant ( for nonlinear = 0.072, and 0.075, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that high dietary zinc intake is associated with reduced risks of developing CVDs, CHF, heart attack, and CVA, but not CHD or angina.