Table 4. Multivariable* hazard ratio (95% CI) of AHEI-2010 components (per serving per day unless otherwise specified) for mortality in NHS (1986–2010).
| Components | Overall mortality | Colorectal cancer mortality |
| Red/processed meat | 1.07 (0.87, 1.30) | 1.22 (0.90, 1.67) |
| Nuts | 0.98 (0.82, 1.17) | 0.69 (0.49, 0.97)** |
| Sugar sweetened beverages + juices | 1.11 (1.01, 1.23)** | 1.16 (0.99, 1.35) |
| Whole grains | 0.98 (0.95, 1.01) | 0.97 (0.93, 1.02) |
| Vegetables | 1.00 (0.94, 1.06) | 0.94 (0.84, 1.04) |
| Whole fruits | 1.08 (0.98, 1.20) | 1.03 (0.87, 1.21) |
| Polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio | 0.98 (0.93, 1.03) | 1.00 (0.93, 1.07) |
| Long chain omega-3 | 0.87 (0.53, 1.43) | 0.63 (0.26, 1.54) |
| Sodium | 1.00 (0.95, 1.05) | 0.94 (0.86, 1.03) |
| Trans fat | 0.97 (0.88, 1.07) | 1.07 (0.92, 1.24) |
| Alcohol | ||
| No intake | 1.30 (1.05, 1.61)** | 1.32 (0.93, 1.87) |
| 5–15 g/day | 1 (ref) | 1 (ref) |
| >15 g/day | 1.22 (0.85, 1.76) | 0.97 (0.50, 1.87) |
*Adjusted for age, physical activity, BMI, weight change, cancer grade, chemotherapy, smoking status, energy intake, colon or rectal cancer, stage of disease, date of colorectal cancer diagnosis.
**After additional adjustment for an AHEI-2010 score without the specific component, RR of overall mortality for alcohol, sweetened beverages + juices remained unchanged and significant, but for nuts and CRC mortality was slightly attenuated and no longer significant (RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.50 = 1.01).