Micronutrients & recovery
Higher total and dietary zinc intake is associated with a modestly lower risk of type 2 diabetes in women, with the effect being most pronounced when dietary zinc is high and supplemental zinc is low.
Focus on getting zinc from food sources like meats, dairy, and whole grains rather than relying solely on supplements. This prospective study suggests that higher dietary zinc is linked to a slightly lower risk of type 2 diabetes in women, but this benefit appears to diminish if you are already getting enough zinc from your diet. Supplements may help those with low dietary intake, but they do not offer extra protection for those who already eat a zinc-rich diet.
After adjustment of lifestyle and dietary risk factors, the relative risks (RRs) (95% CI) of type 2 diabetes comparing the highest with the lowest quintiles were 0.90 (0.82– 0.99) (Ptrend < 0.04) for total zinc intake and 0.92 (0.84 –1.00) (Ptrend < 0.009) for dietary zinc intake from food sources, respectively.
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort (N=82,297), long follow-up (24 years), rigorous adjustment for confounders, but observational design prevents causal inference.
Source
Prospective Study of Zinc Intake and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women
Qi Sun et al. · Diabetes Care · 2009
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