Table 3.

Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores based on habitual protein intake in healthy young females^{1, 2}.

HEI score	Protein density quartile				P-value4
	1 (n = 81)	2 (n = 64)	3 (n = 56)	4 (n = 53)
Total HEI score3	51.7 ± 11.2a	54.1 ± 10.9a	61.7 ± 11.9b	66.4 ± 12.3b	P = 0.001
Total fruit	3.1 ± 1.7	3.4 ± 1.7	3.8 ± 1.4	3.9 ± 1.4	P = 0.05
Whole fruit	2.9 ± 1.7a	3.1 ± 1.6a, b	3.8 ± 1.3b	4.0 ± 1.4b	P = 0.001
Total vegetables	2.8 ± 1.3a	3.0 ± 1.2a	3.8 ± 1.1b	4.1 ± 1.1b	P = 0.001
DGOVL5	2.3 ± 1.8a	2.6 ± 1.7a	4.0 ± 1.5b	4.3 ± 1.3b	P = 0.001
Whole grains	2.4 ± 1.9a	3.0 ± 2.4a, b	3.1 ± 2.6a, b	3.6 ± 2.6b	P = 0.03
Dairy	3.9 ± 1.9a	6.2 ± 2.5b	6.2 ± 2.8b	7.0 ± 2.8b	P = 0.001
Total protein foods	3.9 ± 0.9a	4.4 ± 0.8b	4.8 ± 0.5c	5.0 ± 0.2c	P = 0.001
Seafood and plant protein	2.9 ± 1.5a	3.2 ± 1.5a, b	3.6 ± 1.5a, b	3.9 ± 1.4b	P = 0.006
Fatty acids	5.5 ± 2.9	4.5 ± 2.6	5.4 ± 2.9	5.6 ± 2.8	P = 0.13
Sodium6	6.6 ± 2.5a	4.3 ± 2.0b	3.5 ± 2.1b, c	2.5 ± 2.0c	P = 0.001
Refined grains6	8.0 ± 2.6a, b	6.8 ± 2.9a	8.3 ± 2.2b	8.5 ± 2.1b	P = 0.01
Empty calories6	7.2 ± 5.4a	9.5 ± 3.9b	11.5 ± 4.1c	14.0 ± 4.0d	P = 0.001

¹Values are mean ± SD.

²Data are analyzed using MANCOVA are adjusted for age, ethnicity, race, physical activity, smoking status, energy density, and total energy intake, within a row, values not sharing superscript letters are different at the univariate level, p < 0.05.

³Data are analyzed using ANCOVA adjusted for age, ethnicity, race, physical activity, smoking status, energy density, and total energy intake, within a row, values not sharing superscript letters are different at the univariate level, p < 0.05.

⁴P-value < 0.05 indicates a main effect of protein density quartile.

⁵Dark green and orange vegetables and legumes (DGOVL).

⁶Moderation components higher scores reflect lower intakes.