TABLE 1.
Baseline characteristics of participants according to quintiles of total sugar intake.
| Men (n = 42,405) | Women (n = 48,600) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q3 | Q5 | p‐value | Q1 | Q3 | Q5 | p‐Value | |
| Median (interquartile ranges) of total sugar intake (% energy/day) | 5.6 (4.5–6.4) | 10.3 (9.8–10.9) | 16.8 (15.4–19.2) | 7.8 (6.5–8.8) | 12.9 (12.4–13.4) | 19.1 (17.7–21.4) | ||
| Number of subjects | 8481 | 8481 | 8481 | 9720 | 9720 | 9720 | ||
| Number without missing data | 5278 | 5912 | 5858 | 5523 | 6524 | 6572 | ||
| Age (years) | 51.3 (7.6) a | 51.7 (7.8) | 51.6 (8.1) | <0.001 | 52.4 (8.1) | 51.9 (7.8) | 51.8 (7.8) | <0.001 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 23.7 (3.2) | 23.6 (3.0) | 23.6 (3.2) | <0.001 | 23.7 (3.6) | 23.5 (3.4) | 23.4 (3.7) | <0.001 |
| Missing data (%) | 3.0 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 2.4 | ||
| Alcohol drinking status | ||||||||
| Current drinker (≥1 day/week) (%) | 79.9 | 68.4 | 45.0 | <0.001 | 15.5 | 11.8 | 9.6 | <0.001 |
| Occasional drinker (%) | 5.0 | 7.6 | 11.5 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 7.1 | ||
| Nondrinker (%) | 13.0 | 21.9 | 40.7 | 74.3 | 78.3 | 80.3 | ||
| Missing data (%) | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 3.1 | ||
| Smoking status | ||||||||
| Current smoker (%) | 50.0 | 43.9 | 46.0 | <0.001 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 4.7 | <0.001 |
| Past smoker (%) | 18.4 | 19.1 | 17.0 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | ||
| Never smoked (%) | 28.9 | 34.6 | 34.6 | 82.6 | 89.1 | 88.4 | ||
| Missing data (%) | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 7.8 | 5.9 | 6.2 | ||
| METs (MET‐h/day) | 33.3 (6.7) | 33.7 (6.7) | 33.9 (6.8) | <0.001 | 32.3 (5.6) | 32.7 (5.7) | 32.9 (5.7) | <0.001 |
| Missing data (%) | 23.1 | 16.4 | 16.5 | 25.2 | 16.5 | 15.0 | ||
| Family history of CRC (%) | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.3 | <0.001 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | <0.001 |
| Missing data (%) | 15.8 | 13.2 | 13.4 | 12.6 | 10.7 | 10.8 | ||
| History of diabetes (%) | 7.8 | 6.6 | 5.5 | <0.001 | 4.7 | 3.2 | 2.1 | <0.001 |
| CRC screening, yes (%) | 27.4 | 34.0 | 32.7 | <0.001 | 25.2 | 31.9 | 32.5 | <0.001 |
| Postmenopausal status (%) | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 68.1 | 72.9 | 74.5 | <0.001 |
| Missing data (%) | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 10.6 | 5.0 | 4.9 | |
| Current use of exogenous female hormones (%) | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.7 | <0.001 |
| Missing data (%) | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 9.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | |
| Food and nutrient intake | ||||||||
| Total energy (kcal/day) | 2024 (632) | 2173 (632) | 2260 (665) | <0.001 | 1615 (529) | 1873 (525) | 2053 (598) | <0.001 |
| Protein (% energy/day) | 12.6 (3.1) | 13.9 (2.5) | 13.8 (2.4) | <0.001 | 14.7 (2.9) | 15.4 (2.3) | 14.7 (2.3) | <0.001 |
| Fat (% energy/day) | 20.2 (8.3) | 23.8 (6.6) | 24.2 (6.5) | <0.001 | 26.1 (9.1) | 27.9 (6.3) | 26.7 (6.2) | <0.001 |
| SFAs (% energy/day) | 5.9 (2.8) | 7.2 (2.5) | 7.7 (2.9) | <0.001 | 7.8 (3.3) | 8.6 (2.6) | 8.4 (3.1) | <0.001 |
| n‐3 PUFAs (% energy/day) | 0.9 (0.5) | 1.1 (0.4) | 1.0 (0.4) | <0.001 | 1.2 (0.5) | 1.3 (0.4) | 1.2 (0.4) | <0.001 |
| Carbohydrate (% energy/day) | 49.6 (12.0) | 52.4 (8.9) | 57.3 (8.4) | <0.001 | 55.5 (11.0) | 55.2 (7.8) | 58.5 (7.9) | <0.001 |
| Starch (% energy/day) | 41.3 (12.5) | 38.8 (9.4) | 35.3 (8.4) | <0.001 | 46.1 (11.4) | 39.4 (7.7) | 33.9 (7.6) | <0.001 |
| Dietary fiber (g/1000 kcal) | 4.2 (1.6) | 5.6 (1.8) | 6.7 (2.6) | <0.001 | 5.8 (2.1) | 7.4 (2.1) | 9.0 (2.8) | <0.001 |
| Calcium (mg/1000 kcal) | 158.7 (64.6) | 233.2 (84.7) | 295.3 (132.0) | <0.001 | 217.5 (81.1) | 303.3 (101.1) | 359.8 (146.0) | <0.001 |
| Magnesium (mg/1000 kcal) | 132.9 (41.7) | 152.5 (35.1) | 163.7 (37.1) | <0.001 | 156.4 (45.6) | 174.2 (37.7) | 187.1 (39.6) | <0.001 |
| Vitamin D (μg/1000 kcal) | 4.8 (4.0) | 5.4 (3.2) | 5.1 (3.1) | <0.001 | 5.6 (4.6) | 6.3 (3.6) | 5.7 (3.2) | <0.001 |
| Vitamin B6 (mg/1000 kcal) | 0.7 (0.2) | 0.7 (0.1) | 0.7 (0.2) | <0.001 | 0.7 (0.2) | 0.8 (0.2) | 0.8 (0.2) | <0.001 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg/1000 kcal) | 4.2 (2.8) | 4.7 (2.4) | 4.4 (2.3) | <0.001 | 4.7 (3.0) | 5.2 (2.7) | 4.8 (2.4) | <0.001 |
| Folate (μg/1000 kcal) | 146.9 (59.1) | 180.0 (62.1) | 197.5 (77.8) | <0.001 | 187.0 (72.1) | 224.0 (71.2) | 255.9 (86.7) | <0.001 |
| Vegetable (g/1000 kcal) | 63.6 (40.2) | 95.4 (54.2) | 112.8 (77.4) | <0.001 | 92.0 (52.1) | 127.2 (65.7) | 153.7 (90.8) | <0.001 |
| Fruits (g/1000 kcal) | 28.5 (21.8) | 75.6 (37.8) | 150.9 (101.3) | <0.001 | 52.3 (32.8) | 118.9 (47.4) | 240.3 (119.7) | <0.001 |
| Coffee (mL/1000 kcal) | 43.7 (74.5) | 71.9 (83.0) | 154.8 (170.5) | <0.001 | 52.9 (90.2) | 64.4 (79.6) | 84.5 (119.7) | <0.001 |
| Total sugars b (% energy/day) | 5.3 (1.4) | 10.4 (0.6) | 18.0 (3.8) | <0.001 | 7.4 (1.7) | 12.9 (0.6) | 20.1 (3.6) | <0.001 |
| Free sugars c (% energy/day) | 2.0 (1.2) | 4.7 (1.9) | 9.7 (5.3) | <0.001 | 2.8 (1.5) | 5.1 (2.1) | 7.9 (4.6) | <0.001 |
| Naturally occurring sugars d (% energy/day) | 2.5 (1.2) | 4.9 (1.9) | 7.7 (4.2) | <0.001 | 4.2 (1.6) | 7.4 (2.1) | 11.9 (4.6) | <0.001 |
| Total fructose (fructose + ½ × sucrose) (% energy/day) | 1.8 (0.7) | 3.9 (0.7) | 7.5 (2.2) | <0.001 | 2.8 (0.9) | 5.1 (0.8) | 8.6 (2.3) | <0.001 |
| Glucose (% energy/day) | 1.7 (0.7) | 2.6 (0.8) | 3.5 (1.3) | <0.001 | 1.8 (0.6) | 2.8 (0.6) | 4.1 (1.3) | <0.001 |
| Fructose (% energy/day) | 0.8 (0.4) | 1.9 (0.6) | 3.3 (1.6) | <0.001 | 1.3 (0.5) | 2.6 (0.7) | 4.4 (1.6) | <0.001 |
| Galactose (% energy/day) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.1) | 0.0 (0.1) | <0.001 | 0.0 (0.1) | 0.1 (0.1) | 0.1 (0.1) | <0.001 |
| Sucrose (% energy/day) | 2.0 (0.9) | 4.3 (1.2) | 8.8 (3.6) | <0.001 | 3.0 (1.1) | 5.4 (1.3) | 8.8 (2.9) | <0.001 |
| Maltose (% energy/day) | 0.2 (0.1) | 0.2 (0.1) | 0.2 (0.1) | <0.001 | 0.2 (0.1) | 0.3 (0.1) | 0.3 (0.1) | <0.001 |
| Lactose (% energy/day) | 0.6 (0.7) | 1.3 (1.2) | 2.1 (2.0) | <0.001 | 1.0 (1.0) | 1.9 (1.5) | 2.4 (2.3) | <0.001 |
Note: Baseline characteristics were compared between groups using ANOVA for continuous variables or chi‐squared test for categorical variables. Mean and SD of energy‐adjusted values for total sugar intake (g/day) by the residual method for Q1, Q3, and Q5 were 30.7 (8.0), 58.5 (4.9), and 100.4 (22.3) for men and 38.4 (9.0), 63.0 (6.8), and 95.4 (19.9) for women, respectively. Similarly, the values for free sugar intake (g/day) for Q1, Q3, and Q5 were 11.8 (6.8), 26.5 (11.0), and 54.1 (30.3) for men and 14.6 (7.5), 24.9 (10.8), and 37.5 (23.0) for women; and the values for total fructose (g/day) were 10.6 (4.0), 22.7 (4.4), and 43.1 (13.0) for men and 14.8 (4.7), 25.8 (4.9), and 42.1 (12.1) for women, respectively.
Abbreviations: CRC, colorectal cancer; METs, metabolic equivalents; PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid; SD, standard deviation; SFA, saturated fatty acid.
Mean (SD) (all such values).
“Total sugars” represents the sum of the consumption of the following saccharides: glucose, fructose, galactose, sucrose, maltose, and lactose.
“Free sugars” includes monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods and beverages by the manufacturers, cooks, or consumers; and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices, and fruit juice concentrates. 14
“Naturally occurring sugars” represents sugars from foods which do not contain added sweeteners, such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts, and dairy products.