TABLE 1.
Age-adjusted baseline characteristics of participants (1980 in NHS and 1986 in HPFS) according to the amount of alcohol intake1
| Alcohol intake, g/d |
|||||||||
| Women (NHS) |
Men (HPFS) |
Pooled |
|||||||
| 0 (n = 28,234) | 1–14 (n = 49,038) | ≥15 (n = 10,533) | 0 (n = 10,851) | 1–14 (n = 23,562) | ≥15 (n = 11,357) | 0 (n = 39,085) | 1–14 (n = 72,600) | ≥15 (n = 21,890) | |
| Age,2 y | 46.9 ± 7.33 | 46.3 ± 7.2 | 47.6 ± 6.8 | 54.6 ± 9.9 | 53.7 ± 9.7 | 54.7 ± 9.5 | 49.0 ± 8.8 | 48.7 ± 8.8 | 51.3 ± 9.0 |
| Folate intake, μg/d | 365.7 ± 293.4 | 367.6 ± 269.2 | 354.1 ± 255.1 | 485.1 ± 292.0 | 486.2 ± 276.2 | 462.1 ± 258.5 | 401.3 ± 298.2 | 407.4 ± 277.3 | 403.2 ± 262.4 |
| Vitamin B-6, mg/d | 3.1 ± 11.9 | 2.9 ± 7.2 | 2.9 ± 7.7 | 9.2 ± 26.9 | 8.5 ± 24.6 | 8.2 ± 23.0 | 4.9 ± 18.0 | 4.8 ± 15.6 | 5.4 ± 17.0 |
| Vitamin B-12, μg/d | 9.4 ± 25.5 | 8.9 ± 17.7 | 8.0 ± 15.7 | 12.7 ± 18.5 | 12.8 ± 19.5 | 12.1 ± 15.7 | 10.4 ± 23.9 | 10.2 ± 18.5 | 9.9 ± 16.2 |
| Methionine, mg/d | 1.9 ± 0.5 | 1.9 ± 0.5 | 1.7 ± 0.4 | 2.2 ± 0.5 | 2.2 ± 0.5 | 2.1 ± 0.4 | 2.0 ± 0.5 | 2.0 ± 0.5 | 1.9 ± 0.4 |
| Current multivitamin use, % | 33 | 34 | 36 | 41 | 42 | 44 | 35 | 37 | 40 |
| Red meat,4 servings/d | 0.4 ± 0.3 | 0.4 ± 0.3 | 0.4 ± 0.3 | 0.2 ± 0.2 | 0.2 ± 0.2 | 0.3 ± 0.2 | 0.3 ± 0.3 | 0.3 ± 0.3 | 0.3 ± 0.3 |
| Calcium intake, mg/d | 752 ± 344 | 740 ± 302 | 644 ± 270 | 969 ± 477 | 909 ± 420 | 806 ± 364 | 817 ± 401 | 796 ± 355 | 718 ± 325 |
| Total calories, kcal/d | 1,564 ± 517 | 1,543 ± 490 | 1,683 ± 498 | 1,922 ± 630 | 1,940 ± 608 | 2,145 ± 609 | 1,667 ± 575 | 1,676 ± 564 | 1,899 ± 599 |
| Physical activity, MET-h/wk | 12.2 ± 18.5 | 14.8 ± 21.3 | 15.1 ± 19.7 | 18.6 ± 27.0 | 21.4 ± 29.2 | 22.4 ± 31.2 | 14.4 ± 22.0 | 17.4 ± 24.9 | 19.2 ± 26.9 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 25.0 ± 4.8 | 23.8 ± 3.9 | 23.0 ± 3.3 | 25.7 ± 3.6 | 25.5 ± 3.2 | 25.4 ± 3.0 | 25.2 ± 4.5 | 24.4 ± 3.8 | 24.1 ± 3.4 |
| Family history of CRC, % | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Pack-years smoked | 8.9 ± 15.1 | 11.4 ± 15.4 | 18.0 ± 18.7 | 10.1 ± 17.9 | 12.1 ± 17.6 | 18.2 ± 20.5 | 9.4 ± 16.2 | 11.7 ± 16.2 | 17.6 ± 19.1 |
| Lower endoscopy status, % | |||||||||
| No endoscopy | 89 | 90 | 90 | 73 | 69 | 70 | 85 | 83 | 81 |
| Endoscopy | 11 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 30 | 29 | 15 | 17 | 19 |
| Regular aspirin use, % | 33 | 36 | 39 | 27 | 29 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 36 |
| Postmenopausal hormone use, % | 42 | 43 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1
Values were standardized to the age distribution of the study population. Alcohol and one-carbon nutrient intakes were assessed at baseline, and the most-updated information was used for other covariates in our main analysis. CRC, colorectal cancer; HPFS, Health Professionals Follow-up Study; MET-h, metabolic equivalent task-hours; NHS, Nurses’ Health Study.
2
Value is not age adjusted.
3
Mean ± SD (all such values).
4
Beef, pork, or lamb.