Table 1. Baseline and propensity score-matched characteristics of the participants.
| Variables | Baseline | After propensity score matching | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low intake group | High intake group | p-value | Low intake group | High intake group | p-value | |
| N=336 | N=336 | N=259 | N=259 | |||
| sex, male | 134 (39.9) | 93 (27.7) | 0.001 | 88 (34.0) | 81 (31.3) | 0.287 |
| age (year) | 44.5 (36.0–60.0) | 57.0 (43.3–66.0) | <0.001 | 51.0 (39.0–64.0) | 51.0 (39.0–62.0) | 0.774 |
| Water-soluble dietary fiber intake (g/1,000 kcal) | 1.19 (1.02–1.33) | 1.85 (1.67–2.14) | <0.001 | 1.20 (1.02–1.33) | 1.84 (1.67–2.12) | <0.001 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 22.4 (20.1–24.9) | 22.1 (19.9–24.3) | 0.277 | 22.3 (20.2–24.8) | 21.5 (19.5–23.4) | 0.001 |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 83.2 (76.9–89.8) | 82.2 (75.3–88.5) | 0.133 | 83.2 (77.0–89.5) | 79.5 (74.7–86.6) | <0.001 |
| CAP (dB/m) | 224.0 (176.3–265.0) | 217.5 (185.0–261.0) | 0.770 | 225.0 (176.0–264.0) | 205.0 (173.0–238.0) | 0.001 |
| FLI | 13.3 (4.8–34.8) | 10.8 (5.1–25.6) | 0.119 | 13.7 (5.2–32.5) | 8.5 (4.2–18.2) | <0.001 |
| LSM (kPa) | 4.3 (3.5–5.3) | 4.2 (3.6–5.4) | 0.825 | 4.2 (3.4–5.2) | 4.1 (3.5–4.9) | 0.594 |
| M2BPGi (C.O.I) | 0.50 (0.34–0.68) | 0.51 (0.36–0.69) | 0.516 | 0.53 (0.37–0.73) | 0.46 (0.34–0.63) | 0.008 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 121.0 (110.0–131.0) | 121.0 (110.0–133.0) | 0.620 | 122.0 (112.0–134.0) | 117.0 (109.0–128.0) | 0.001 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 75.0 (69.0–83.0) | 76.0 (69.0–83.0) | 0.881 | 76.0 (70.0–85.0) | 76.0 (68.0–82.0) | 0.379 |
| Fasting serum glucose (mg/dL) | 90.5 (85.0–97.0) | 91.0 (86.0–100.0) | 0.055 | 91.0 (85.0–97.0) | 90.0 (85.0–96.0) | 0.197 |
| HbA1c (%) | 5.6 (5.4–5.8) | 5.7 (5.5–5.9) | 0.150 | 5.6 (5.5–5.9) | 5.6 (5.4–5.8) | 0.156 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase (IU/L) | 20.0 (17.0–24.0) | 20.5 (17.0–24.0) | 0.185 | 20.0 (17.0–25.0) | 20.0 (17.0–24.0) | 0.764 |
| Alanine aminotransferase (IU/L) | 17.5 (13.0–24.8) | 17.0 (13.0–23.0) | 0.988 | 17.0 (13.0–23.0) | 16.0 (12.0–22.0) | 0.417 |
| GGT (IU/L) | 21.0 (15.0–35.0) | 19.0 (15.0–29.0) | 0.025 | 20.0 (14.0–34.0) | 18.0 (14.0–28.0) | 0.018 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 77.0 (51.0–112.8) | 74.0 (56.0–102.8) | 0.656 | 79.0 (51.0–112.0) | 69.0 (51.0–95.0) | 0.045 |
| HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) | 61.5 (51.0–74.0) | 67.0 (55.0–78.0) | 0.001 | 62.0 (53.0–75.0) | 68.0 (55.0–81.0) | 0.010 |
| LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) | 116.0 (96.8–136.0) | 118.0 (101.0–118.0) | 0.292 | 118.0 (98.0–141.0) | 116.0 (98.0–136.0) | 0.314 |
| smoking habit (%) | 50 (14.9) | 35 (10.4) | 0.104 | 35 (13.5) | 30 (11.6) | 0.298 |
| exercise habit (%) | 39 (11.6) | 76 (22.6) | <0.001 | 28 (10.8) | 53 (20.5) | 0.002 |
| MASLD (%) | 106 (31.5) | 103 (30.7) | 0.868 | 84 (32.4) | 41 (15.8) | <0.001 |
Data are presented as numbers (%) or median (range). BMI: body mass index; CAP: controlled attenuation parameter; LSM: liver stiffness measure; FLI: fatty liver index; M2BPGi: mac-2-binding protein glycosylated isomer; GGT: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; HDL: high density lipoprotein; LDL: low density lipoprotein; MASLD: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.