Table 1. Baseline characteristics of KoGES according to quintiles of plant-based diet indices (N = 5,646)a.
| Quintile 1 | Quintile 2 | Quintile 3 | Quintile 4 | Quintile 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDI | ||||||
| Sample size, n | 1,390 | 1,225 | 863 | 1,076 | 1,092 | |
| Median score (range) | 45 (31–47) | 49 (48–50) | 51 (51–52) | 54 (53–55) | 58 (56–72) | |
| Women, % | 42.7 | 48.2 | 47.3 | 52.4 | 50.7 | |
| Age (years) | 49.0 (8.0) | 50.4 (8.5) | 51.6 (8.9) | 51.7 (8.7) | 52.4 (8.9) | |
| Education | ||||||
| ≤6 years, % | 18.8 | 25.2 | 29.5 | 29.6 | 35.8 | |
| 7–12 years, % | 21.9 | 23.6 | 21.8 | 24.6 | 25.2 | |
| >12 years, % | 59.3 | 51.2 | 48.7 | 45.7 | 39.0 | |
| Smoking status | ||||||
| Never smoker,% | 51.9 | 56.4 | 57.2 | 59.8 | 58.2 | |
| Former smoker, % | 17.0 | 18.1 | 15.1 | 14.8 | 16.6 | |
| Current smoker, % | 31.2 | 25.5 | 27.7 | 25.5 | 25.3 | |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.8 (2.9) | 23.7 (2.8) | 23.7 (2.8) | 23.7 (2.9) | 24.0 (3.0) | |
| Alcohol (g/wk) | 12.5 (24.5) | 10.4 (22.3) | 9.8 (19.7) | 8.2 (18.1) | 8.6 (23.1) | |
| Total energy intake (kcal/d) | 2,020.2 (549.9) | 1,872.4 (521.1) | 1,802.7 (480.5) | 1,831.1 (534.9) | 1,922.8 (513.9) | |
| Exercise (MET/d) | 21.8 (14.4) | 22.7 (14.5) | 23.7 (15.2) | 23.5 (14.7) | 25.7 (15.8) | |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 80.2 (7.8) | 79.8 (7.9) | 79.9 (7.8) | 79.3 (8.0) | 80.8 (8.3) | |
| Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL) | 89.3 (16.8) | 89.1 (17.2) | 88.5 (14.6) | 87.7 (13.5) | 88.5 (15.6) | |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 124.4 (81.0) | 125.1 (90.1) | 128.6 (93.2) | 119.8 (67.6) | 123.3 (77.2) | |
| HDL-C (mg/dL) | 51.9 (11.8) | 52.1 (11.6) | 52.1 (11.6) | 53.0 (12.0) | 51.8 (11.5) | |
| SBP (mmHg) | 115.3 (16.4) | 116.0 (16.8) | 116.9 (17.7) | 116.3 (18.1) | 117.7 (17.4) | |
| DBP (mmHg) | 77.3 (11.3) | 77.1 (11.5) | 77.2 (11.2) | 77.0 (11.4) | 78.1 (11.3) | |
| Healthy plant foods (servings/d)b | 8.6 (4.1) | 9.3 (4.0) | 9.4 (4.0) | 10.5 (4.5) | 12.2 (4.8) | |
| Less-healthy plant foods (servings/d)c | 6.8 (2.8) | 7.0 (3.0) | 7.3 (2.8) | 7.8 (3.1) | 8.9 (3.2) | |
| Animal foods (servings/d)d | 4.2 (2.2) | 3.5 (1.9) | 3.1 (1.7) | 3.1 (1.8) | 2.8 (1.8) | |
| hPDI | ||||||
| Sample size, n | 1,348 | 1,006 | 1,342 | 866 | 1,084 | |
| Median score (range) | 44 (30–46) | 48 (47–49) | 51 (50–53) | 55 (54–56) | 59 (57–74) | |
| Women, % | 35.2 | 42.9 | 49.1 | 56.7 | 60.2 | |
| Age (years) | 49.4 (8.4) | 50.7 (8.8) | 51.1 (8.7) | 51.2 (8.3) | 52.3 (8.8) | |
| Education | ||||||
| ≤6 years, % | 20.7 | 26.5 | 29.1 | 29.4 | 31.8 | |
| 7–12 years, % | 22.3 | 23.4 | 22.7 | 25.2 | 24.2 | |
| >12 years, % | 57.0 | 50.1 | 48.2 | 45.4 | 44.0 | |
| Smoking status | ||||||
| Never smoker,% | 44.0 | 51.1 | 59.2 | 63.5 | 67.5 | |
| Former smoker, % | 17.8 | 19.3 | 15.0 | 15.1 | 14.9 | |
| Current smoker, % | 38.2 | 29.6 | 25.8 | 21.4 | 17.5 | |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.8 (2.8) | 23.6 (2.8) | 23.6 (2.8) | 24.0 (3.0) | 23.9 (3.0) | |
| Alcohol (g/wk) | 13.7 (25.3) | 9.9 (20.7) | 9.4 (20.5) | 8.6 (20.6) | 7.6 (21.1) | |
| Total energy intake (kcal/d) | 1,915.5 (543.4) | 1,798.1 (537.5) | 1,835.7 (505.7) | 1,925.5 (504.1) | 2,034.6 (521.6) | |
| Exercise (MET/d) | 21.9 (14.4) | 23.5 (15.3) | 23.9 (15.2) | 23.7 (14.8) | 24.2 (15.0) | |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 80.5 (7.8) | 79.7 (7.8) | 79.5 (7.6) | 80.2 (8.5) | 80.4 (8.3) | |
| Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL) | 88.1 (11.8) | 88.7 (15.8) | 88.6 (15.6) | 88.6 (17.6) | 89.4 (18.5) | |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 132.3 (95.6) | 125.1 (89.3) | 118.8 (70.7) | 120.0 (72.9) | 122.8 (75.8) | |
| HDL-C (mg/dL) | 50.8 (11.6) | 52.2 (11.9) | 52.4 (11.5) | 53.3 (11.8) | 52.6 (11.8) | |
| SBP (mmHg) | 115.0 (16.3) | 116.2 (17.8) | 117.1 (17.2) | 115.6 (16.5) | 117.8 (18.3) | |
| DBP (mmHg) | 77.1 (11.2) | 77.4 (11.6) | 77.5 (11.2) | 77.1 (11.2) | 77.7 (11.8) | |
| Healthy plant foods (servings/d)b | 8.1 (3.6) | 8.7 (4.1) | 9.7 (4.1) | 11.1 (4.4) | 12.7 (4.7) | |
| Less-healthy plant foods (servings/d)c | 9.2 (2.9) | 7.8 (2.9) | 7.2 (2.9) | 6.7 (2.9) | 6.2 (2.9) | |
| Animal foods (servings/d)d | 4.3 (2.0) | 3.4 (2.1) | 3.2 (1.8) | 3.1 (1.8) | 2.7 (1.6) | |
| uPDI | ||||||
| Sample size, n | 1,292 | 1,100 | 1,245 | 990 | 1,019 | |
| Median score (range) | 43 (30–45) | 48 (46–49) | 52 (50–53) | 55 (54–57) | 60 (58–74) | |
| Women, % | 65.8 | 51.2 | 45.5 | 37.3 | 35.5 | |
| Age (years) | 48.6 (7.6) | 50.0 (8.4) | 51.2 (8.6) | 52.5 (9.1) | 52.6 (9.0) | |
| Education | ||||||
| ≤6 years, % | 13.1 | 23.5 | 28.6 | 36.1 | 38.9 | |
| 7–12 years, % | 21.4 | 23 | 24.7 | 21.9 | 26.1 | |
| >12 years, % | 65.5 | 53.5 | 46.7 | 42.0 | 35.0 | |
| Smoking status | ||||||
| Never smoker,% | 69.8 | 59.2 | 53.9 | 47.5 | 48.1 | |
| Former smoker, % | 12.5 | 17.5 | 17.3 | 17.2 | 18.4 | |
| Current smoker, % | 17.7 | 23.3 | 28.8 | 35.4 | 33.5 | |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.9 (2.7) | 23.8 (2.9) | 23.7 (2.8) | 23.6 (2.8) | 23.9 (3.1) | |
| Alcohol (g/wk) | 7.6 (19.4) | 9.6 (20.6) | 11.0 (23.7) | 11.9 (24.1) | 10.7 (22.0) | |
| Total energy intake (kcal/d) | 1,821.2 (493.9) | 1,860.9 (512.0) | 1,852.1 (475.0) | 1,916.0 (539.5) | 2,085.2 (596.8) | |
| Exercise (MET/d) | 20.1 (17.8) | 22.0 (13.6) | 23.9 (15.4) | 24.5 (15.7) | 27.3 (17.2) | |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 78.3 (7.7) | 79.5 (7.9) | 80.2 (8.0) | 80.7 (7.7) | 81.9 (8.1) | |
| Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL) | 89.3 (18.7) | 88.9 (16.6) | 88.1 (12.9) | 89.1 (17.6) | 87.8 (11.4) | |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 113.8 (58.1) | 121.6 (87.9) | 125.4 (80.9) | 129.9 (90.7) | 132.7 (91.8) | |
| HDL-C (mg/dL) | 53.1 (12.0) | 52.3 (11.4) | 52.0 (11.3) | 51.8 (12.2) | 51.1 (11.4) | |
| SBP (mmHg) | 113.2 (16.3) | 114.9 (17.2) | 116.4 (16.9) | 118.6 (17.8) | 119.5 (17.4) | |
| DBP (mmHg) | 75.5 (11.6) | 76.9 (11.1) | 77.5 (10.9) | 78.6 (11.9) | 78.9 (11.0) | |
| Healthy plant foods (servings/d)b | 12.1 (4.1) | 10.8 (4.5) | 9.5 (4.1) | 8.7 (4.4) | 8.0 (4.2) | |
| Less-healthy plant foods (servings/d)c | 5.8 (2.3) | 6.8 (2.6) | 7.4 (2.7) | 8.3 (2.9) | 9.7 (3.3) | |
| Animal foods (servings/d)d | 4.2 (1.9) | 3.7 (1.9) | 3.3 (1.9) | 3.0 (1.9) | 2.6 (1.8) | |
| Pro-vegetarian diet index | ||||||
| Sample size, n | 1,303 | 1,250 | 928 | 1,183 | 982 | |
| Median score (range) | 27 (13–29) | 31 (30–32) | 33 (33–34) | 36 (35–37) | 40 (38–51) | |
| Women, % | 32.5 | 45.8 | 50.4 | 55.4 | 60.2 | |
| Age (years) | 48.3 (7.6) | 50.1 (8.3) | 50.9 (8.6) | 52.0 (8.9) | 53.9 (9.1) | |
| Education | ||||||
| ≤6 years, % | 14.6 | 21.7 | 27.9 | 33.2 | 43.1 | |
| 7–12 years, % | 20.1 | 24.4 | 25.3 | 24 | 23.9 | |
| >12 years, % | 65.3 | 53.9 | 46.8 | 42.8 | 33.0 | |
| Smoking status | ||||||
| Never smoker, % | 41.9 | 53.3 | 58.7 | 64.6 | 67.5 | |
| Former smoker, % | 19.3 | 17.6 | 15.9 | 14.8 | 13.6 | |
| Current smoker, % | 38.8 | 29.1 | 25.3 | 20.6 | 18.8 | |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.9 (2.7) | 23.7 (2.8) | 23.8 (2.8) | 23.7 (2.9) | 23.8 (3.2) | |
| Alcohol (g/wk) | 14.7 (25.9) | 9.9 (20.4) | 9.4 (22.4) | 8.1 (19.3) | 7.0 (20.0) | |
| Total energy intake (kcal/d) | 2,052.4 (529.1) | 1,839.1 (513.1) | 1,818.2 (508.4) | 1,830.5 (507.3) | 1,936.5 (550.0) | |
| Exercise (MET/d) | 21.2 (13.8) | 23.0 (14.5) | 23.7 (14.9) | 23.8 (15.3) | 25.9 (16.0) | |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 80.6 (7.6) | 79.6 (7.8) | 79.7 (7.8) | 79.7 (8.0) | 80.4 (8.7) | |
| Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL) | 88.7 (14.1) | 89.4 (17.9) | 88.4 (16.1) | 88.2 (14.2) | 88.6 (16.4) | |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 126.8 (88.8) | 127.8 (89.7) | 122.3 (70.8) | 122.8 (79.7) | 119.1 (74.4) | |
| HDL-C (mg/dL) | 51.0 (11.6) | 51.7 (11.9) | 52.5 (11.3) | 53.2 (11.8) | 52.7 (11.7) | |
| SBP (mmHg) | 114.3 (15.4) | 115.5 (17.3) | 115.8 (17.1) | 117.7 (17.5) | 119.1 (18.7) | |
| DBP (mmHg) | 77.0 (11.1) | 77.1 (11.4) | 77.1 (11.4) | 77.6 (11.4) | 78.0 (11.6) | |
| Healthy plant foods (servings/d)b | 9.3 (4.0) | 9.2 (4.1) | 9.7 (10.0) | 10.0 (4.5) | 11.9 (5.2) | |
| Less-healthy plant foods (servings/d)c | 8.1 (3.0) | 7.2 (3.0) | 7.2 (2.9) | 7.2 (3.1) | 7.7 (3.2) | |
| Animal foods (servings/d)d | 4.9 (2.1) | 3.6 (1.7) | 3.1 (1.6) | 2.7 (1.6) | 2.3 (1.5) | |
aThe quintiles do not have equal sample size because many participants received the same scores.
bHealthy plant foods are aggregated consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and tea and coffee.
cLess-healthy plant foods are aggregated consumption of refined grains, potatoes, sugar sweetened beverages, sweets and desserts, and salty food group.
dAnimal foods are aggregated consumption of animal fat, dairy, eggs, fish, meat, and miscellaneous animal foods.
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; hPDI, healthful plant-based diet index; KoGES, Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study; MET, metabolic equivalent of task; PDI, overall plant-based diet index; SBP, systolic blood pressure; uPDI, unhealthful plant-based diet index