TABLE 1.
Sociodemographic and health characteristics by vegetarian status in the MASALA cohort1
| Vegetarian | Nonvegetarian | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (n = 892) | (n = 335) | (n = 557) | P | |
| Age, y | 55.3 ± 9.4 | 55.6 ± 9.2 | 55.2 ± 9.5 | 0.558 |
| Women, % | 47.1 | 57.6 | 40.8 | <0.001 |
| Current smoker, % | 3.1 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 0.029 |
| Education ≥ Bachelor's degree, % | 87.8 | 88.1 | 87.6 | 0.843 |
| Income ≥ $75K,2 % | 73.6 | 70.8 | 75.2 | 0.158 |
| Traditional cultural beliefs, % | <0.001 | |||
| Strong | 33.4 | 44.7 | 26.4 | |
| Intermediate | 29.9 | 29.0 | 30.4 | |
| Weak | 36.7 | 23.1 | 43.2 | |
| Intentional exercise, MET min/wk | 945 (315–1860) | 945 (420–1760) | 960 (315–1890) | 0.99 |
| Alternative Healthy Eating Index score | 70.1 ± 6.8 | 68.2 ± 5.1 | 71.3 ± 7.4 | <0.001 |
| Alcohol, g/d | 0.2 (0–2.6) | 0 (0–0.3) | 1.0 (0.01–5.3) | <0.001 |
| Energy intake, kcal/d | 1630 (1300–1970) | 1540 (1280–1860) | 1690 (1350–2010) | <0.001 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 26.0 ± 4.1 | 25.6 ± 4.1 | 26.2 ± 4.1 | 0.027 |
| Waist circumference, cm | 92.7 ± 10.4 | 91.1 ± 10.1 | 93.7 ± 10.5 | <0.001 |
| Serum total cholesterol,2 mg/dL | 188 ± 36.9 | 186 ± 35.5 | 189 ± 37.6 | 0.154 |
| Serum TGs,2 mg/dL | 118 (88–157) | 118 (89–156) | 118 (88–158) | 0.99 |
| Serum LDL cholesterol,2 mg/dL | 111 ± 32.0 | 109 ± 30.2 | 113 ± 32.9 | 0.036 |
| Serum HDL cholesterol,2 mg/dL | 50.1 ± 13.3 | 51.2 ± 13.4 | 49.4 ± 13.3 | 0.055 |
| Statin use, % | 26.6 | 24.2 | 27.7 | 0.255 |
| Fasting plasma glucose,2 mg/dL | 94 (87–106) | 96 (89–105) | 98 (90–109) | 0.054 |
| HOMA-IR2 | 2.5 (1.6–3.9) | 2.2 (1.5–3.3) | 2.6 (1.7–4.3) | <0.001 |
| Diabetes medication use, % | 16.0 | 17.0 | 15.4 | 0.535 |
| Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg | 125 ± 15.8 | 124 ± 15.7 | 125 ± 15.8 | 0.210 |
| Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg | 73.4 ± 9.8 | 72.0 ± 9.2 | 74.2 ± 10.0 | <0.001 |
| Antihypertensive medication use, % | 30.4 | 28.1 | 31.8 | 0.242 |
| Fatty liver (HU < 40),2 % | 9.1 | 5.1 | 11.5 | 0.001 |
| CAC Agatston score2 | ||||
| Men | 12 (0–139) | 6.5 (0–62) | 18 (0–162) | 0.025 |
| Women | 88 (83–96) | 0 (0–3.7) | 0 (0–0) | 0.167 |
| CAC Agatston score > 0,2 % | ||||
| Men | 58.7 | 52.5 | 61.4 | 0.074 |
| Women | 23.7 | 26.9 | 20.9 | 0.147 |
| Common CIMT,2 mm | 0.84 (0.73–0.96) | 0.83 (0.71–0.95) | 0.84 (0.73–0.99) | 0.047 |
| Internal CIMT,2 mm | 1.11 (0.95–1.34) | 1.09 (0.91–1.23) | 1.13 (0.97–1.39) | 0.006 |
1Values are percentages, means ± SDs, or medians (IQRs). CAC, coronary artery calcium; CIMT, carotid artery intima media thickness; HU, Hounsfield units; MASALA, Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America; MET, metabolic equivalent.
2Missing data for some characteristics—income: total n = 866, n (vegetarian) = 322, n (nonvegetarian) = 544; total cholesterol and fasting glucose: total n = 888, n (vegetarian) = 333, n (nonvegetarian) = 555; TGs and HDL cholesterol: total n = 889, n (vegetarian) = 334, n (nonvegetarian) = 555; LDL cholesterol: total n = 882, n (vegetarian) = 331, n (nonvegetarian) = 551; HOMA-IR: total n = 828, n (vegetarian) = 314, n (nonvegetarian) = 514; liver fat: total n = 879, n (vegetarian) = 332, n (nonvegetarian) = 547; CAC: total n = 885, n (vegetarian) = 334, n (nonvegetarian) = 551; common CIMT: total n = 891, n (vegetarian) = 334, n (nonvegetarian) = 557; internal CIMT: total n = 890, n (vegetarian) = 334, n (nonvegetarian) = 556.