Appendix Table 1.
The Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 scoring system
Component | Criteria for minimum score (0) | Criteria for maximum score (10) |
---|---|---|
Fruita, servings/day | 0 | ≥ 4 |
Vegetablesb, servings/day | 0 | ≥ 5 |
Whole grainsc, g/day | 0 | 75 |
Red/processed meatsd, servings/day | ≥ 1.5 | 0 |
Alcohole, drinks/day | ≥ 2.5 | 0.5–1.5 |
Long-chain n-3 fatsf, mg/day | 0 | 250 |
PUFAg, % of energy | ≤ 2 | ≥ 10 |
Trans fat, % of energy | ≥ 4 | ≤ 0.5 |
Sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juiceh, servings/day | ≥ 1 | 0 |
Sodiumk, mg/day | Highest decile | Lowest decile |
Nuts, beans and soy productsl, servings/day | 0 | ≥ 1 |
Abbreviations: n-3: omega-3; PUFA: polyunsaturated fats.
The cut-offs were based on previous knowledge on food and nutrients and disease risk (11). The AHEI-2010 used sex-specific cut-offs for whole grains and alcohol; values are presented for women only.
Includes only whole fruit. One serving is 1 medium piece of fruit or 0.5 cup of berries (1 cup=236.59g).
Includes all vegetables except potatoes (including French fries). One serving is 0.5 cup of vegetables or 1 cup of green leafy vegetables.
Grams of whole grains account for the variability of the percentage of whole grains in various “whole grain” products. One serving of a 100% whole grain product (i.e., 0.5 cup of oatmeal or brown rice) contains ~ 15–20g of whole grains per dry weight.
One serving is 4 oz of unprocessed meat or 1.5 oz of processed meat (1 oz=28.35g).
Nondrinkers received a score of 2.5. One drink is 4 oz of wine, 12 oz of beer, or 1.5 oz of liquor.
Includes eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. The cut-offfor optimal intake (250 mg/day) is ~ 2–4 oz servings of fish/week.
PUFA do not include EPA or DHA intake.
One serving is 8 oz.
Values in lower decile were ≤ 1,112 mg/day, and in highest decile were ≥ 3,337 mg/d in 1984 in the Nurses’ Health Study.
One serving is 1 oz of nuts or 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of peanut butter or 3–4 oz of tofu or soybeans.