Table 1.
Characteristics of the Sample at Dietary Assessment, by Quintiles of Major Fat Types (n=6,183)*
| Saturated fat Quintiles | Mono-unsaturated fat Quintiles | Poly-unsaturated fat Quintiles | Trans fat Quintiles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
| Mean age at study entry (years) | 66.5 | 66.3 | 65.9 | 66.4 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.5 | 66.1 | 66.3 | 66.6 | 66.1 | 66.0 |
| Mean age at initial cognitive testing (years) | 72.1 | 71.9 | 71.6 | 72.0 | 71.7 | 71.8 | 72.1 | 71.8 | 72.0 | 72.3 | 71.7 | 71.6 |
| Mean body mass index (kg/m2) | 24.8 | 25.9 | 26.3 | 25.1 | 25.8 | 26.1 | 25.4 | 25.7 | 25.8 | 25.1 | 25.8 | 26.2 |
| Household income ≥$50,000/year | 26 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 29 | 23 | 23 | 29 | 26 | 21 |
| Caucasian race | 94 | 97 | 97 | 95 | 97 | 97 | 96 | 97 | 96 | 95 | 97 | 97 |
| Randomized to aspirin | 52 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 49 | 50 | 52 | 50 | 52 | 50 | 52 | 50 |
| Randomized to vitamin E | 53 | 50 | 48 | 52 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 50 | 50 | 52 | 51 | 51 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher education | 39 | 31 | 30 | 38 | 34 | 31 | 37 | 34 | 31 | 40 | 35 | 28 |
| History of hypertension | 39 | 41 | 41 | 39 | 39 | 42 | 39 | 41 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 44 |
| History of elevated cholesterol | 54 | 42 | 35 | 50 | 42 | 39 | 43 | 43 | 41 | 48 | 42 | 42 |
| History of diabetes | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Current smoking | 5 | 9 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 14 |
| Current hormone use | 43 | 42 | 36 | 43 | 42 | 38 | 41 | 41 | 40 | 44 | 41 | 37 |
| History of depression | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Exercise level | ||||||||||||
| ≥4 times per week | 19 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 11 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 21 | 11 | 7 |
| 1–3 times per week | 36 | 29 | 22 | 34 | 29 | 20 | 32 | 28 | 25 | 35 | 28 | 23 |
| Rare or never | 45 | 61 | 71 | 48 | 61 | 71 | 55 | 60 | 63 | 44 | 61 | 71 |
| Alcohol use | ||||||||||||
| 1 or more drinks/day | 10 | 12 | 16 | 10 | 11 | 18 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| 1–6 drinks/week | 23 | 31 | 29 | 23 | 31 | 30 | 26 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 31 | 28 |
| 1–3 drinks/month or less, or never | 67 | 57 | 55 | 67 | 58 | 52 | 64 | 57 | 56 | 61 | 57 | 60 |
| Mean total calories (kcal/day) | 1769 | 1753 | 1744 | 1768 | 1754 | 1740 | 1761 | 1754 | 1750 | 1765 | 1752 | 1747 |
| Total fat (median % energy) | 22.4 | 29.5 | 36.4 | 22.1 | 29.5 | 37.1 | 24.3 | 29.7 | 34.4 | 23.8 | 30.0 | 33.9 |
| Protein (median % energy) | 17.9 | 18.5 | 18.5 | 18.5 | 18.4 | 18.2 | 18.5 | 18.5 | 17.7 | 19.0 | 18.6 | 17.0 |
| Carbohydrate (median % energy) | 59.3 | 51.9 | 44.7 | 59.3 | 52.0 | 44.3 | 56.8 | 51.8 | 47.5 | 56.6 | 51.1 | 48.7 |
| SFA† (median % energy) | 7.0 | 9.8 | 13.1 | 7.3 | 9.9 | 12.3 | 8.8 | 9.9 | 10.5 | 7.7 | 10.2 | 11.2 |
| MUFA† (median % energy) | 8.0 | 11.0 | 13.6 | 7.8 | 11.0 | 14.4 | 8.9 | 11.1 | 12.8 | 8.4 | 11.1 | 12.9 |
| PUFA† (median % energy) | 5.1 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 6.8 | 4.1 | 5.7 | 7.7 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 6.2 |
| Trans fat† (median % energy) | 0.65 | 1.06 | 1.37 | 0.64 | 1.07 | 1.46 | 0.84 | 1.10 | 1.20 | 0.55 | 1.04 | 1.84 |
| Median PUFA/SFA† ratio | 0.75 | 0.59 | 0.45 | 0.66 | 0.58 | 0.55 | 0.45 | 0.57 | 0.77 | 0.69 | 0.56 | 0.56 |
*
Figures are percentages of respondents, unless stated otherwise. Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100.
†
SFA = saturated fatty acid; MUFA = mono-unsaturated fatty acid; PUFA = poly-unsaturated fatty acid; Trans = trans-unsaturated fatty acid.