Appendix Table 1.
Construction of Alternative Healthy Eating Index Scores
| Components∗ | Criteria for Minimum Scores | Criteria for Maximum Scores | Possible Score Range | AHEI Scores in the Participants in 1991/1993 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Score (SD) | Median Score | |||||
| Vegetable (serving/d) | 0 | 5 | 0-10 | 5.6 (2.7) | 6 | |
| Fruit (serving/d) | 0 | 4 | 0-10 | 6.1 (3.0) | 6 | |
| Nuts and soy (serving/d) | 0 | 1 | 0-10 | 3.2 (3.0) | 3 | |
| Ratio of white to red meat | 0 | 4 | 0-10 | 5.4 (2.8) | 6 | |
| Trans fat (% of energy ) | ≥4 | ≤0.5 | 0-10 | 8.4 (2.8) | 10 | |
| Total fiber (% of energy) | 0 | 24 | 0-10 | 7.8 (3.0) | 10 | |
| Ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat | ≤0.1 | ≥1 | 0-10 | 5.2 (2.7) | 5 | |
| Duration of multivitamin use | <5 y | ≥5 y | 2.5-7.5 | 4.2 (2.4) | 2.5 | |
| Alcohol serving/d | Men | 0 or >3.5 | 1.5-2.5 | 0-10 | 4.8 (3.7)† | 5† |
| Alcohol serving/d | Women | 0 or >2.5 | 0.5-1.5 | 0-10 | ||
| Total score | 2.5-87.5 | 50.7 (11.9) | 51.5 | |||
AHEI = Alternative Healthy Eating Index; SD = standard deviation.
∗
Each AHEI component contributed from 0 to 10 points to the total AHEI score, except the multivitamin component, which was dichotomous and contributing 2.5 points (for nonuse) or 7.5 points (for use). A score of 10 indicates that the recommendations were fully met, whereas a score of 0 represents the least healthy dietary behavior. Intermediate intakes were scored proportionately between 0 and 10.
†
Median score for men and women combined.