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Magnesium-rich diet score is inversely associated with incident cardiovascular disease: the Atherosclerosis Risk in
Katherine L Copp1, Lyn M Steffen1, So-Yun Yi1
1University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, 1300 South Second St, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA.
Insights
A diet rich in magnesium (Mg) foods like whole grains and vegetables is linked to lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. This dietary pattern did not show a significant association with ischaemic stroke risk in the study.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology
- Public Health Nutrition
Background:
- Serum magnesium (Mg) shows inverse associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but dietary Mg associations are inconsistent.
- Previous research on dietary magnesium and cardiovascular outcomes has yielded mixed results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between a magnesium-rich diet score and the risks of incident CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and ischaemic stroke.
- To analyze dietary magnesium intake patterns in relation to major cardiovascular events within the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 15,022 adults from the ARIC study without prevalent CVD at baseline.
- Dietary assessment using a 66-item food frequency questionnaire, with a magnesium-rich diet score created from whole grains, nuts, vegetables, fruits, legumes, coffee, and tea.
- Cox proportional hazard regression models used to assess associations, adjusting for confounders over a >30-year follow-up period.
Main Results:
- A magnesium-rich diet was inversely associated with incident CVD (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 0.87) and CHD (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 0.82).
- No significant association was observed between a magnesium-rich diet and ischaemic stroke risk (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 1.00).
- Higher intake of magnesium-rich foods was associated with healthier demographic and lifestyle characteristics.
Conclusions:
- A diet rich in magnesium-containing foods, including whole grains, nuts, vegetables, fruits, legumes, coffee, and tea, is associated with reduced risk of CVD and CHD.
- The study did not find a significant link between a magnesium-rich diet and the risk of ischaemic stroke.
Aims:
Numerous studies have shown inverse associations between serum magnesium (Mg) and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but studies of dietary Mg have not been consistent. To examine the association of a Mg-rich diet score with risks of CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and ischaemic stroke in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.
Methods And Results:
There were 15 022 Black and White adults without prevalent CVD at baseline (1987-89) included in this analysis. Diet was assessed at two visits 6 years apart using an interviewer-administered 66-item food frequency questionnaire. A Mg-rich diet score was created that included servings of whole grain products, nuts, vegetables, fruit, legumes, coffee, and tea. Cox proportional hazard regression evaluated associations of incident CVD, CHD, and stroke across quintiles of Mg-rich diet score, adjusting for demographics, lifestyle factors, and clinical characteristics. Over >30 years of follow-up, there were 3531 incident CVD events (2562 CHD, 1332 ischaemic stroke). Participants who consumed more Mg-rich foods were older, female, White, had lower blood pressure, fewer were not current smokers, and more reported being physically active. A Mg-rich diet was inversely associated with incident CVD (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77-0.98, Ptrend = 0.02) and CHD (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.71-0.95, Ptrend = 0.01); however, the diet-stroke association was null (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.82-1.22, Ptrend = 0.97).
Conclusion:
Consuming a diet including Mg-rich foods, such as whole grains, nuts, vegetables, fruits, legumes, coffee, and tea, is associated with lower risk of CVD and CHD, but not ischaemic stroke.
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