Table 1.
Characteristics and dietary nutrients intake of participants by quartiles (Q) of total phytosterols intake
| Quartiles based on total phytosterols intake | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | P |
| Total, n | 228 | 228 | 228 | 228 | |
| Age, y | 32.4 ± 12.2a | 33.5 ± 13.1a | 29.4 ± 11.4b | 33.2 ± 12.6a | 0.002 |
| Gender, M/W | 109/119 | 88/140 | 106/122 | 106/122 | 0.179 |
| Income per month | 0.027 | ||||
| < 2000 yuan, n (%) | 133 (58.3) | 133 (58.3) | 154 (67.5) | 158 (69.3) | |
| 2000–5000 yuan, n (%) | 86 (37.7) | 92 (40.4) | 70 (30.7) | 64 (28.1) | |
| ≥ 5000 yuan, n (%) | 9 (3.9) | 3 (1.3) | 4 (1.8) | 6 (2.6) | |
| Education | < 0.001 | ||||
| Under college, n (%) | 46 (20.2) | 52 (22.8) | 54 (23.7) | 72 (31.6) | |
| Bachelor, n (%) | 162 (71.1) | 166 (72.8) | 170 (74.5) | 152 (66.7) | |
| Master or doctor, n (%) | 20 (8.8) | 10 (4.4) | 4 (1.8) | 4 (1.8) | |
| PAL | 0.145 | ||||
| Light, n (%) | 58 (25.4) | 58 (25.4) | 58 (25.4) | 70 (32.5) | |
| Medium, n (%) | 160 (70.2) | 161 (70.6) | 168 (73.7) | 154 (67.5) | |
| Heavy, n (%) | 10 (4.4) | 9 (3.9) | 2 (0.9) | 4 (1.8) | |
| Exercise | 0.949 | ||||
| < 10 h/week, n (%) | 101 (44.3) | 94 (41.2) | 88 (38.6) | 92 (40.4) | |
| 10–20 h/week, n (%) | 98 (43.0) | 104 (45.6) | 108 (47.4) | 106 (46.5) | |
| ≥ 20 h/week, n (%) | 29 (12.7) | 30 (13.2) | 32 (14.0) | 30 (13.2) | |
| Smokinga | 0.072 | ||||
| Non-smoker, n (%) | 206 (90.4) | 207 (90.8) | 210 (92.1) | 194 (85.1) | |
| Current smoker, n (%) | 22 (9.6) | 21 (9.2) | 18 (7.9) | 34 (14.9) | |
| Drinkinga | 0.636 | ||||
| Non-drinker, n (%) | 182 (79.8) | 184 (80.7) | 184 (80.7) | 192 (84.2) | |
| Current drinker, n (%) | 46 (20.2) | 44 (19.3) | 44 (19.3) | 36 (15.8) | |
| Overweight/obesity, n (%) | 100 (43.9) | 90 (39.5) | 82 (36.0) | 74 (32.5) | 0.075 |
| Abdominal obesity, n (%) | 77 (33.8) | 62 (27.2) | 59 (25.9) | 54 (23.7) | 0.092 |
| Dietary intakes | |||||
| Energy, kcal | 2179.3 ± 528.7a | 2271.9 ± 551.5b | 2368.9 ± 548.6c | 2498.2 ± 494.1d | < 0.001 |
| Protein, g/d | 76.1 ± 21.2a | 82.9 ± 23.9b | 86.9 ± 24.9b | 95.2 ± 22.1c | < 0.001 |
| Fat, g/d | 60.2 ± 23.0a | 69.5 ± 23.7b | 74.3 ± 24.7c | 86.4 ± 21.7d | < 0.001 |
| Carbohydrate, g/d | 344.9 ± 93.6 | 343.6 ± 89.9 | 353.0 ± 91.7 | 355.8 ± 89.8 | 0.399 |
| Fiber, g/d | 14.4 ± 3.9a | 17.3 ± 4.4b | 19.5 ± 4.9c | 23.1 ± 5.2d | < 0.001 |
| Cholesterol, mg/d | 382.9 ± 230.5a | 461.1 ± 266.9b | 445.8 ± 275.0b | 504.2 ± 260.4c | < 0.001 |
| Total plant sterols, mg/d | 161.9 ± 23.0 | 231.3 ± 20.1 | 294.0 ± 18.8 | 383.0 ± 54.4 | < 0.001 |
| β-sitosterol, mg/d | 96.4 ± 16.8a | 139.9 ± 22.2b | 187.9 ± 27.9c | 255.7 ± 47.3d | < 0.001 |
| campesterol, mg/d | 32.5 ± 13.4a | 48.8 ± 20.4b | 51.4 ± 26.9b | 57.9 ± 29.2c | < 0.001 |
| stigmasterol, mg/d | 12.5 ± 5.4a | 15.0 ± 5.9b | 17.8 ± 7.5c | 19.0 ± 7.3d | < 0.001 |
| β-sitostanol, mg/d | 9.2 ± 4.4a | 13.3 ± 5.6b | 18.5 ± 6.6c | 27.2 ± 7.5d | < 0.001 |
| campestanol, mg/d | 11.3 ± 3.3a | 14.4 ± 4.0b | 18.3 ± 4.2c | 23.2 ± 4.8d | < 0.001 |
P values are for differences across quartiles of total plant sterols intake; Data are mean ± SD or frequency (percentage), a, b, c, d, mean values with unlike letters were significantly different (P < 0.05)
Abbreviations: PAL physical activity level
a There is no report of quitting smoking or quitting drinking in our population