Table 1.
Age adjusted baseline characteristics of study participants by fifths of energy adjusted gluten intake. Values are numbers (age adjusted percentages) unless stated otherwise
| Characteristics | Nurses’ Health Study (1986) | Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (lowest) (n=12 449) | 3 (n=12 909) | 5 (highest) (n=13 236) | 1 (lowest) (n=9120) | 3 (n=9057) | 5 (highest) (n=8993) | ||
| Median (range) gluten intake, g/d | 2.8 (0-3.4) | 4.7 (4.3-5.1) | 7.1 (6.2-26.7) | 3.5 (0-4.3) | 6.0 (5.5-6.6) | 9.4 (8.1-38.4) | |
| Mean (SD) age, years | 53.0 (6.9) | 51.9 (7.2) | 52.3 (7.3) | 54.6 (9.6) | 53.2 (9.6) | 53.2 (9.7) | |
| White race | 11 915 (96) | 12 692 (98) | 13 073 (99) | 8031 (88) | 8277 (91) | 8310 (92) | |
| Median (IQR) physical activity, METs* | 7.7 (2.5-20.2) | 7.7 (2.9-18.7) | 7.7 (2.5-17.9) | 10.4 (3.1-26.3) | 11.8 (4.1-27.6) | 14.3 (4.8-31.3) | |
| Mean (SD) body mass index† | 25.3 (4.8) | 25.3 (4.8) | 25.0 (4.7) | 25.9 (3.6) | 25.6 (3.3) | 24.9 (3.1) | |
| Mean (SD) height, inches† | 64.5 (2.4) | 64.6 (2.4) | 64.5 (2.4) | 70.1 (3.5) | 70.1 (3.2) | 70.0 (3.2) | |
| Mean (SD) alcohol, g/d† | 8.4 (13.6) | 6.0 (10.0) | 4.3 (8.0) | 13.2 (17.9) | 11.9 (15.6) | 8.5 (11.9) | |
| Past or current smoking | 7480 (60) | 7096 (55) | 6957 (53) | 5146 (58) | 4606 (53) | 4129 (48) | |
| Mean (SD) pack years of smoking (among past or current smokers)† | 24.7(19.2) | 22.2 (18.5) | 21.1(18.2) | 26.8 (19.3) | 24.3(18.6) | 22.7 (18.3) | |
| History of diabetes, | 517 (4.0) | 384 (3.0) | 405 (3.0) | 294 (3.0) | 227 (2.6) | 239 (2.7) | |
| History of hypertension | 3398 (27) | 2965 (23) | 2989 (23) | 2226 (24) | 1864 (21) | 1755 (20) | |
| History of hypercholesterolemia | 1446 (11) | 1405 (11) | 1654 (13) | 973 (11) | 986 (11) | 1155 (13) | |
| Parental history of myocardial infarction | 4728 (38) | 4958 (39) | 5091 (39) | 2918 (32) | 2936 (33) | 3015 (35) | |
| Regular aspirin use | 4183 (37) | 4334 (36) | 4360 (36) | 2565 (28) | 2503 (28) | 2515 (28) | |
| Regular NSAID use | 3862 (36) | 4283 (37) | 4219 (36) | 541 (6) | 464 (5) | 438 (5) | |
| Regular statin use | 241 (2) | 234 (2) | 278 (2) | 48 (0.6) | 52 (0.5) | 64 (0.7) | |
| Current multivitamin use | 5278 (43) | 5463 (43) | 5651 (43) | 3776 (42) | 3782 (43) | 3905 (44) | |
| Menopausal status | 8812 (68) | 8290 (66) | 8609 (65) | – | – | – | |
| Current menopausal hormone use | 2143 (17) | 2154 (17) | 2301 (18) | – | – | – | |
IQR=interquartile range; NSAID=non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
*Metabolic equivalents from recreational and leisure time activities.
†Age adjusted.