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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2016 Jan 11;25(3):521–531. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-15-0956

Table 3.

Demographic and lifestyle factors and their associations with CRP, PGE-M, and sTNFRs in the VITAL Biomarker Study

CRP (N=217) PGE-M (N=210) sTNFRI (N=217) sTNFRII (N=217)



N (%) Ratiob 95% CI Ratiob 95% CI Ratiob 95% CI Ratiob 95% CI
R2 valuesc 0.44 0.08 0.10 0.30

Demographic
Age (yrs)
 50-<55 53 (24.4) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 55-<60 53 (24.4) 1.26 0.85, 1.87 1.00 0.78, 1.27 1.05 0.93, 1.19 1.01 0.91, 1.12
 60-<65 37 (17.1) 1.45 0.94, 2.23 1.03 0.79, 1.35 1.10 0.95, 1.26 1.06 0.94, 1.19
 65-<70 30 (13.8) 1.51 0.95, 2.41 1.17 0.88, 1.57 1.12 0.96, 1.30 1.12 0.99, 1.26
 70+ 44 (20.3) 1.58 1.04, 2.41 1.37 1.06, 1.78 1.30 1.14, 1.49 1.41 1.26, 1.58
P (continuous) 0.02 0.009 <0.001 <0.001
Sex
 Female 106 (48.9) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Male 111 (51.2) 0.45 0.34, 0.59 1.20 1.01, 1.42 1.09 1.00, 1.20 1.04 0.97, 1.12
P-difference <0.001 0.04 <0.05 0.29
Lifestyle/
Anthropometric
BMI (kg/m2)
 <25 83 (38.3) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 25-<30 97 (44.7) 1.56 1.14, 2.13 0.98 0.81, 1.19 1.06 0.96, 1.18 1.12 1.03, 1.22
 30+ 37 (17.1) 3.62 2.41, 5.44 1.21 0.94, 1.56 1.14 1, 1.30 1.17 1.05, 1.30
P (continuous) <0.001 0.41 <0.05 0.005
Current Physical
Activity
(moderate/vigorous)
 None 119 (55.4) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Any 96 (44.7) 0.67 0.51, 0.89 1.01 0.85, 1.20 0.98 0.89, 1.07 0.92 0.86, 1.00
P-difference 0.005 0.88 0.61 0.04
Smoking (pack-years)
 Never smokers 109 (50.2) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Below median (<18 ) 55 (25.4) 1.13 0.81, 1.58 1.01 0.82, 1.24 1.09 0.97, 1.21 1.09 1.00, 1.19
 Above median (18+) 53 (24.4) 1.52 1.08, 2.12 1.25 1.01, 1.53 0.99 0.89, 1.11 0.98 0.89, 1.07
P-trend 0.02 0.05 0.90 0.87
Alcohol (grams/wk)
 Low tertile (<3) 72 (33.3) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Mid tertile (3-<56) 72 (33.3) 1.08 0.77, 1.51 0.94 0.76, 1.16 1.07 0.96, 1.19 0.92 0.84, 1.00
 High tertile (56+) 72 (33.3) 0.92 0.65, 1.30 0.95 0.76, 1.17 0.99 0.89, 1.11 0.84 0.77, 0.92
Global P 0.64 0.80 0.32 <0.006
Current Medication
Use
Low-dose Aspirin
 No 155 (73.1) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Low (1-3 days/wk) 20 (9.43) 0.90 0.55, 1.46 0.99 0.74, 1.33 0.96 0.82, 1.13 1.01 0.89, 1.15
 High (4+ days/wk) 37 (17.5) 1.11 0.75, 1.62 0.76 0.60, 0.97 1.00 0.88, 1.13 0.99 0.89, 1.09
P-trend 0.72 0.04 0.87 0.84
HRT (women only)
 No 46 (45.1) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Yes 56 (54.9) 1.74 1.18, 2.58 0.91 0.72, 1.13 0.97 0.84, 1.13 0.90 0.80, 1.02
P-difference 0.006 0.38 0.71 0.10
Medical History
History of CVD
 No 187 (86.2) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Yes 30 (13.8) 0.62 0.41, 0.95 1.02 0.79, 1.32 0.99 0.86, 1.13 1.01 0.90, 1.13
P-difference 0.03 0.90 0.85 0.89
History of Cancer
 No 179 (82.5) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Yes 38 (17.5) 1.29 0.90, 1.85 1.23 0.98, 1.54 1.12 1.00, 1.26 1.12 1.02, 1.24
P-difference 0.16 0.08 0.05 0.02
Dietary intake
Energy (kcal/day)
 Q1 (<1373) 55 (25.7) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Q2 (1373-<1769) 51 (23.8) 1.76 1.18, 2.62 0.95 0.74, 1.22 1.07 0.94, 1.21 1.01 0.91, 1.13
 Q3 (1769-<2220) 54 (25.2) 1.41 0.92, 2.15 0.85 0.65, 1.11 0.95 0.83, 1.09 0.94 0.84, 1.06
 Q4 (2220+) 54 (25.2) 1.11 0.72, 1.72 0.81 0.62, 1.07 0.91 0.79, 1.05 0.90 0.80, 1.02
P (continuous) 0.95 0.25 0.07 0.03
Saturated Fat(g/day)
 Q1 (<14.5) 54 (25.2) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Q2 (14.5-<20.0) 52 (24.3) 1.96 1.31, 2.94 1.09 0.85, 1.41 1.10 0.97, 1.26 1.07 0.96, 1.19
 Q3 (20.0-<27.5) 54 (25.2) 1.75 1.14, 2.68 1.09 0.84, 1.43 1.16 1.01, 1.34 1.13 1.01, 1.27
 Q4 (27.5+) 54 (25.2) 2.61 1.45, 4.71 1.38 0.95, 2.00 1.20 0.99, 1.46 1.13 0.97, 1.33
P (continuous) 0.004 0.42 0.25 <0.05
γ-tocopherol (mg/day)
 Q1 (<9.5) 55 (25.7) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Q2 (9.5-<13.0) 52 (24.3) 1.56 1.02, 2.37 1.03 0.79, 1.34 0.94 0.82, 1.08 1.02 0.91, 1.14
 Q3 (13.0-<17.1) 54 (25.2) 1.47 0.93, 2.34 0.98 0.74, 1.31 0.94 0.81, 1.09 0.95 0.84, 1.07
 Q4 (17.1+) 53 (24.8) 2.11 1.15, 3.88 1.05 0.72, 1.53 0.97 0.80, 1.18 1.01 0.86, 1.19
P (continuous) 0.04 0.40 0.33 0.33
Vitamin C (mg/day)
 Q1 (<73) 55 (25.7) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Q2 (73-<113) 54 (25.2) 1.42 0.96, 2.09 1.03 0.81, 1.32 1.04 0.92, 1.18 0.99 0.89, 1.10
 Q3 (113-<162) 51 (23.8) 0.99 0.65, 1.51 0.93 0.72, 1.21 0.93 0.81, 1.07 0.96 0.86, 1.08
 Q4 (162+) 54 (25.2) 0.80 0.53, 1.22 0.90 0.69, 1.17 1.00 0.87, 1.14 0.93 0.83, 1.04
P (continuous) 0.01 0.62 0.67 0.08
Vitamin D (mcg/day)
 Q1 (<3.5) 54 (25.2) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Q2 (3.5-<5.1) 53 (24.8) 0.88 0.60, 1.29 0.66 0.52, 0.84 1.06 0.93, 1.21 0.92 0.83, 1.02
 Q3 (5.1-<7.3) 53 (24.8) 0.75 0.50, 1.13 0.68 0.53, 0.88 1.05 0.92, 1.21 0.99 0.89, 1.11
 Q4 (7.3+) 54 (25.2) 0.33 0.20, 0.55 0.77 0.57, 1.05 0.98 0.83, 1.15 0.93 0.81, 1.06
P (continuous) <0.001 0.28 0.55 0.82
EPA+DHA (g/day)
 Q1 (<0.10) 55 (25.7) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Q2 (0.10-<0.17) 53 (24.8) 0.76 0.52, 1.13 1.01 0.79, 1.29 0.94 0.82, 1.06 0.90 0.81, 1.00
 Q3 (0.17-<0.28) 52 (24.3) 0.81 0.55, 1.21 0.91 0.71, 1.16 0.97 0.85, 1.10 0.97 0.88, 1.08
 Q4 (0.28+) 54 (25.2) 0.48 0.32, 0.72 0.88 0.68, 1.13 0.96 0.84, 1.10 0.92 0.83, 1.02
P (continuous) <0.001 0.50 0.33 0.08
Dietary+supplemental
intake
Fiber (g/day)
 Q1 (<13.8) 53 (24.9) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Q2 (13.8-<19.1) 53 (24.9) 1.05 0.71, 1.57 1.28 1.01, 1.63 0.93 0.81, 1.06 0.98 0.88, 1.09
 Q3 (19.1-<25.3) 53 (24.9) 0.78 0.51, 1.21 1.03 0.8, 1.34 0.91 0.79, 1.05 0.96 0.86, 1.08
 Q4 (25.3+) 54 (25.4) 0.55 0.35, 0.89 0.79 0.59, 1.05 0.91 0.78, 1.06 0.98 0.86, 1.11
P (continuous) 0.04 0.22 0.46 0.42
EPA+DHA (g/day)
 Q1 (<0.10) 55 (25.7) 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref 1.00 Ref
 Q2 (0.10-<0.19) 52 (24.3) 0.96 0.65, 1.43 1.03 0.8, 1.32 0.94 0.82, 1.07 0.93 0.83, 1.03
 Q3 (0.19-<0.32) 53 (24.8) 0.90 0.61, 1.34 0.93 0.72, 1.19 0.96 0.85, 1.1 0.94 0.85, 1.05
 Q4 (0.32+) 54 (25.2) 0.56 0.38, 0.84 0.88 0.68, 1.13 0.92 0.81, 1.05 0.93 0.83, 1.04
P (continuous) 0.07 0.91 0.94 0.88

ABBREVIATIONS: BMI (body mass index); CRP (C-reactive protein); CVD (cardiovascular disease); DHA (docosahexaenoic acid); EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid); HRT (hormone replacement therapy); IL-1β (interleukin 1-beta); IL-6 (interleukin-6); IL-8 (interleukin-8); PGE-M (prostaglandin E2 metabolite); TNFα (tumor necrosis factor alpha); sTNFRI (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1); sTNFRII (soluble tumor necrosis factor 2)

a

The above table includes factors associated with at least one biomarker. Factors not associated with any of the biomarkers of inflammation at the alpha=0.05 level are not presented, including: race/ethnicity, regular aspirin use, non-aspirin NSAID use, use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, multivitamin use, history of diabetes, education, dietary fiber intake, dietary alpha-tocopherol intake, dietary beta-carotene intake, supplemental fiber use, supplemental vitamin E use, supplemental vitamin C use, supplemental vitamin D use, supplemental beta carotene use, supplemental fish oil use, dietary+supplemental alpha-tocopherol consumption, dietary+supplemental vitamin C consumption, diet+supplemental vitamin D consumption, and dietary+supplemental beta carotene consumption

b

Ratio=eβ in a model in which the dependent variable is ln(biomarker). All models were adjusted for age (continuous), sex, and BMI (continuous), except the models for age as categories include age (categorical), sex, and BMI (continuous) and the models for BMI as categories include age (continuous), sex, and BMI (categorical). All dietary and dietary+supplement exposures were additionally adjusted for energy intake

c

Includes all individually significant factors (p<0.05) for the biomarker in a single model