TABLE 1.
Age-standardized baseline characteristics and dietary intake in lowest and highest quintiles of DASH, AMED, and AHEI-2010 scores among women in the NHS1
| DASH (range: 8–40) | AMED (range: 0–9) | AHEI-2010 (range: 0–110) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 (n = 15,771) | Q5 (n = 13,809) | Q1 (n = 18,592) | Q5 (n = 16,213) | Q1 (n = 15,634) | Q5 (n = 15,544) | |
| Score | 15.9 ± 2.0 | 29.9 ± 1.8 | 1.5 ± 0.6 | 6.6 ± 0.7 | 33.4± 3.9 | 63.6 ± 5.8 |
| Baseline characteristics | ||||||
| Age, y | 52.8 ± 7.1 | 53.0 ± 7.2 | 52.8 ± 7.2 | 52.9 ± 7.1 | 52.8 ± 7.2 | 53.0 ± 7.1 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 24.6 ± 4.7 | 24.3 ± 4.0 | 24.6 ± 4.5 | 24.3 ± 4.0 | 24.8 ± 4.8 | 24.0 ± 3.8 |
| Physical activity, MET-hours/wk | 9.4 ± 15.1 | 20.7 ± 28.7 | 10.6 ± 17.1 | 18.8 ± 24.8 | 9.8 ± 14.8 | 19.8 ± 26.3 |
| Current smokers, % | 34 | 12 | 28 | 15 | 28 | 15 |
| Past smokers, % | 28 | 41 | 30 | 40 | 27 | 44 |
| NSAID use, % | 43 | 41 | 42 | 42 | 44 | 40 |
| Multivitamin use, % | 28 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 27 | 32 |
| Family history of CRC, % | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Screened for CRC, % | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Postmenopausal, % | 57 | 57 | 56 | 57 | 57 | 56 |
| Postmenopausal hormone use, % | 28 | 33 | 29 | 33 | 29 | 34 |
| Baseline dietary intake | ||||||
| Energy, kcal/d | 1749 ± 530 | 1796 ± 491 | 1537 ± 471 | 1997 ± 531 | 1926 ± 497 | 1588 ± 505 |
| Alcohol (drinks/d), % | ||||||
| 0 | 51 | 53 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 52 |
| >0–1 | 37 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| >1–2 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| >2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Fruits, servings/d | 1.2 ± 0.9 | 3.3 ± 1.5 | 1.3 ± 0.9 | 3.2 ± 1.5 | 1.7 ± 1.1 | 2.6 ± 1.6 |
| Vegetables, servings/d | 2.2 ± 1.1 | 4.8 ± 2.2 | 2.1 ± 1.0 | 4.9 ± 2.1 | 2.5 ± 1.2 | 4.3 ± 2.3 |
| Whole grains, servings/d | 0.5 ± 0.6 | 2.0 ± 1.3 | 0.6 ± 0.7 | 1.9 ± 1.3 | 0.8 ± 0.9 | 1.5 ± 1.3 |
| Nuts, servings/d | 0.5 ± 0.5 | 0.8 ± 0.4 | 0.3 ± 0.5 | 0.9 ± 0.3 | 0.5 ± 0.5 | 0.7 ± 0.4 |
| Legumes, servings/d | 0.3 ± 0.5 | 0.7 ± 0.5 | 0.2± 0.4 | 0.8 ± 0.4 | 0.4 ± 0.5 | 0.6 ± 0.5 |
| Low-fat dairy, servings/d | 0.3 ± 0.6 | 1.5 ± 1.0 | 0.7 ± 0.9 | 1.1 ± 1.0 | 0.8 ± 1.0 | 1.0 ± 0.9 |
| Fish, servings/d | 0.3 ± 0.5 | 0.7 ± 0.5 | 0.1 ± 0.4 | 0.9 ± 0.4 | 0.2 ± 0.4 | 0.7 ± 0.4 |
| PUFAs, % energy | 6.5 ± 1.7 | 6.4 ± 1.8 | 6.1 ± 1.7 | 6.8 ± 1.7 | 6.1 ± 1.5 | 6.9 ± 2.0 |
| ω-3 fatty acids, mg/d | 135 ± 112 | 278 ± 217 | 109 ± 88 | 304 ± 209 | 105 ± 81 | 296 ± 209 |
| MUFA:SFA ratio | 0.5 ± 0.5 | 0.5 ± 0.5 | 0.3 ± 0.5 | 0.7 ± 0.4 | 0.5 ± 0.5 | 0.6 ± 0.5 |
| Red and processed meat, servings/d | 1.0 ± 0.6 | 0.5 ± 0.3 | 0.8 ± 0.5 | 0.7 ± 0.5 | 1.1 ± 0.5 | 0.4 ± 0.3 |
| Sugar-sweetened beverages, drinks/d | 0.6 ± 0.9 | 0.1 ± 0.3 | 0.4 ± 0.7 | 0.2 ± 0.5 | 0.6 ± 0.8 | 0.1 ± 0.3 |
| Sodium, mg/d | 1923 ± 675 | 2031 ± 672 | 1672 ± 586 | 2274 ± 692 | 2145 ± 655 | 1767 ± 651 |
| Transfatty acids, % energy | 2.2 ± 0.6 | 1.5 ± 0.5 | 2.0 ± 0.6 | 1.7 ± 0.6 | 2.2 ± 0.6 | 1.5 ± 0.5 |
| Dietary fiber, 2 g/d | 12.2 ± 2.8 | 21.7 ± 4.9 | 13.1 ± 3.5 | 20.2 ± 4.9 | 13.0 ± 3.1 | 20.8 ± 5.4 |
| Folate, 2 μg/d | 279 ± 184 | 503 ± 252 | 321 ± 222 | 459 ± 233 | 316 ± 186 | 475 ± 278 |
| Calcium, 2 mg/d | 683 ± 344 | 1117 ± 452 | 828 ± 436 | 956 ± 415 | 772 ± 356 | 1030 ± 503 |
1Values are means ± SDs. AMED, Alternative Mediterranean Diet; AHEI-2010, Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010; CRC, colorectal cancer; DASH, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension; MET, metabolic equivalent of task; NHS, Nurses' Health Study; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; Q, quintile.
2Nutrients were energy-adjusted.