Table 2 Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for type 2 diabetes (T2D) by quintiles (Q) of energy-adjusted total and dietary zinc intake, zinc to iron ratio, and zinc supplement use (yes/no) in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (1991–2014)

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q5

P _trend

Number of subjects (T2D cases)

5234 (638)

5228 (719)

5223 (789)

5221 (832)

5226 (698)

Person-years

88,923

91,333

90,929

91,301

93,281

Model 1

1.00 (ref)

1.10 (0.99–1.23)

1.22 (1.10–1.35)

1.29 (1.16–1.43)

1.07 (0.96–1.19)

0.017

Model 2

1.00 (ref)

1.14 (1.00–1.29)

1.19 (1.06–1.35)

1.25 (1.11–1.41)

1.14 (1.01–1.29)

0.011

Model 3

1.00 (ref)

1.17 (1.03–1.32)

1.23 (1.08–1.39)

1.29 (1.14–1.47)

1.16 (1.02–1.32)

0.008

Model 4

1.00 (ref)

1.09 (0.92–1.29)

1.11 (0.94–1.32)

1.26 (1.06–1.49)

1.05 (0.88–1.25)

0.212

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q5

P _trend

Number of subjects (T2D cases)

5234 (617)

5231 (674)

5224 (705)

5219 (808)

5224 (872)

Person-years

89,374

91,085

91,528

92,067

91,714

Model 1

1.00 (ref)

1.08 (0.97–1.20)

1.14 (1.02–1.27)

1.31 (1.18–1.46)

1.43 (1.29–1.58)

< 0.0001

Model 2

1.00 (ref)

1.10 (0.97–1.25)

1.15 (1.01–1.30)

1.25 (1.11–1.42)

1.31 (1.16–1.48)

< 0.0001

Model 3

1.00 (ref)

1.14 (1.00–1.29)

1.19 (1.05–1.35)

1.32 (1.16–1.49)

1.39 (1.22–1.57)

< 0.0001

Model 4

1.00 (ref)

1.05 (0.89–1.25)

1.12 (0.94–1.32)

1.26 (1.06–1.49)

1.27 (1.06–1.51)

0.001

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q5

P _trend

Number of subjects (T2D cases)

5223 (782)

5227 (801)

5225 (740)

5228 (656)

5229 (697)

Person-years

90,860

90,977

90,965

91,825

91,141

Model 1

1.00 (ref)

1.06 (0.96–1.17)

0.98 (0.89–1.08)

0.86 (0.77–0.95)

0.90 (0.81–1.00)

< 0.0001

Model 2

1.00 (ref)

1.02 (0.91–1.14)

0.92 (0.82–1.03)

0.91 (0.81–1.03)

0.91 (0.81–1.02)

0.027

Model 3

1.00 (ref)

1.01 (0.90–1.14)

0.91 (0.82–1.03)

0.90 (0.80–1.02)

0.91 (0.81–1.02)

0.023

Model 4

1.00 (ref)

1.02 (0.87–1.20)

0.96 (0.82–1.13)

0.92 (0.78–1.08)

0.91 (0.77–1.07)

0.110

No

Yes

Number of subjects (T2D cases)

21,715 (3225)

4417 (451)

Person-years

376,020

79,748

Model 1

1.00 (ref)

0.68 (0.62–0.75)

Model 2

1.00 (ref)

0.83 (0.74–0.92)

Model 3

1.00 (ref)

0.79 (0.70–0.89)

Model 4

1.00 (ref)

0.83 (0.71–0.98)