Magnesium-rich diet score is inversely associated with incident cardiovascular disease: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study

Abstract 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.