TABLE 1.
Participant characteristics according to quintile (Q) of overall and partitioned omega-3 fatty acid intake1
| Total omega-3 |
Marine omega-3 |
Nonmarine omega-3 |
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| Characteristic | Q1 | Q3 | Q5 | Q1 | Q3 | Q5 | Q1 | Q3 | Q5 |
| n | 8635 | 8636 | 8635 | 8635 | 8636 | 8635 | 8635 | 8636 | 8635 |
| Age (y) | 57.1 ± 8.02 | 55.0 ± 7.5 | 53.8 ± 7.1 | 56.5 ± 8.0 | 55.3 ± 7.5 | 53.9 ± 7.1 | 57.0 ± 8.0 | 55.0 ± 7.4 | 53.9 ± 7.2 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.0 ± 3.3 | 23.0 ± 3.2 | 23.1 ± 3.1 | 22.8 ± 3.2 | 23.0 ± 3.2 | 23.2 ± 3.2 | 23.1 ± 3.3 | 23.0 ± 3.2 | 23.0 ± 3.2 |
| Sex, female (%) | 68.3 | 57.2 | 47.2 | 64.2 | 58.9 | 46.8 | 67.3 | 56.9 | 48.5 |
| Education (%)3 | 20.2 | 29.9 | 42.5 | 27.7 | 29.5 | 35.5 | 18.1 | 30.4 | 44.0 |
| Hypertension (%)4 | 19.3 | 19.7 | 19.4 | 19.1 | 19.8 | 19.5 | 19.6 | 20.0 | 19.2 |
| Physical activity (%)5 | 21.1 | 28.4 | 35.0 | 25.1 | 27.0 | 31.7 | 19.1 | 27.6 | 35.7 |
| Smoking, ever (%) | 26.2 | 27.1 | 29.1 | 25.2 | 26.2 | 32.5 | 27.9 | 26.8 | 27.6 |
| Total energy (kcal) | 1077 ± 272 | 1531 ± 325 | 2136 ± 540 | 1262 ± 399 | 1510 ± 434 | 2003 ± 549 | 1071 ± 266 | 1544 ± 322 | 2105 ± 562 |
| Saturated fat (% kcal) | 7.7 ± 2.4 | 9.0 ± 2.3 | 9.8 ± 2.5 | 8.1 ± 2.6 | 8.8 ± 2.4 | 9.8 ± 2.5 | 7.7 ± 2.4 | 9.0 ± 2.3 | 9.8 ± 2.6 |
| MUFA (% kcal) | 7.3 ± 1.9 | 8.5 ± 1.8 | 9.6 ± 1.9 | 7.6 ± 2.1 | 8.5 ± 1.8 | 9.5 ± 1.9 | 7.4 ± 1.9 | 8.5 ± 1.8 | 9.4 ± 2.0 |
| Total omega-3 (g/d) | 0.45 ± 0.09 | 0.82 ± 0.05 | 1.54 ± 0.40 | 0.56 ± 0.25 | 0.85 ± 0.28 | 1.36 ± 0.45 | 0.50 ± 0.15 | 0.82 ± 0.16 | 1.49 ± 0.44 |
| Marine omega-3 (g/d) | 0.16 ± 0.07 | 0.31 ± 0.10 | 0.52 ± 0.22 | 0.11 ± 0.05 | 0.30 ± 0.02 | 0.60 ± 0.16 | 0.23 ± 0.13 | 0.31 ± 0.15 | 0.43 ± 0.23 |
| Nonmarine omega-3 (g/d) | 0.29 ± 0.08 | 0.51 ± 0.10 | 1.02 ± 0.39 | 0.45 ± 0.24 | 0.55 ± 0.28 | 0.76 ± 0.39 | 0.27 ± 0.06 | 0.51 ± 0.03 | 1.06 ± 0.36 |
| Omega-6 (g) | 4.3 ± 1.77 | 7.5 ± 2.5 | 13.0 ± 4.63 | 5.7 ± 3.1 | 7.6 ± 3.36 | 11.2 ± 5.13 | 4.2 ± 1.8 | 7.5 ± 2.54 | 12.9 ± 4.6 |
| Omega-6:omega-3 ratio | 9.5 ± 3.49 | 9.1 ± 3.0 | 8.5 ± 2.7 | 10.1 ± 3.4 | 9.0 ± 2.9 | 8.2 ± 2.83 | 8.8 ± 3.4 | 9.3 ± 3.1 | 8.9 ± 2.7 |
| Fiber (g/1000 kcal) | 7.7 ± 2.9 | 8.3 ± 2.5 | 8.7 ± 2.4 | 8.4 ± 3.0 | 8.2 ± 2.5 | 8.2 ± 2.37 | 7.4 ± 2.7 | 8.3 ± 2.5 | 8.8 ± 2.5 |
| Red meat (g/1000 kcal) | 16.2 ± 10.9 | 18.8 ± 10.4 | 21.5 ± 11.5 | 14.3 ± 10.4 | 19.2 ± 10.3 | 22.5 ± 11.5 | 17.9 ± 11.3 | 18.6 ± 10.6 | 20.3 ± 11.4 |
| Fish (g/1000 kcal) | 27.5 ± 15.5 | 36.7 ± 16.3 | 42.8 ± 18.3 | 17.6 ± 8.8 | 36.7 ± 11.3 | 53.4 ± 17.6 | 38.3 ± 20.3 | 35.1 ± 16.4 | 35.1 ± 16.1 |
| Vegetables (g/1000 kcal) | 69.4 ± 37.1 | 72.2 ± 32.1 | 80.7 ± 36.8 | 71.4 ± 40.0 | 71.8 ± 31.5 | 79.1 ± 34.3 | 69.3 ± 34.3 | 72.5 ± 33.6 | 79.7 ± 36.8 |
| Fruit/juices (g/1000 kcal) | 121.6 ± 105.9 | 135.0 ± 95.1 | 144.0 ± 92.9 | 135.3 ± 109.1 | 133.5 ± 94.3 | 132.9 ± 90.7 | 114.8 ± 102.5 | 134.6 ± 92.9 | 146.7 ± 94.4 |
| Alcohol (g/d) | 1.5 ± 6.8 | 1.6 ± 7.1 | 2.1 ± 7.5 | 1.2 ± 5.8 | 1.7 ± 7.2 | 2.5 ± 8.8 | 1.8 ± 7.7 | 1.6 ± 6.9 | 1.7 ± 6.8 |
1
MUFA, monounsaturated fatty acid. All P values for trend <0.0001, with the exception of BMI (P = 0.09) for total omega-3, fruit (P = 0.05) for marine omega-3, and BMI (P = 0.02), smoking (P = 0.52), omega-6:omega-3 ratio (P = 0.96), and alcohol (P = 0.37) for nonmarine omega-3. Levels of hypertension displayed no trend across any fatty acid.
2
Mean ± SD (all such values).
3
Secondary or greater.
4
Self-reported, physician diagnosed.
5
Report of any moderate or strenuous leisure physical activity.