Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of study participants according to quintiles of plant-based diet indices in the Korean adults.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Plant-Based Diet Index | ||||||
| Sample size, n | 886 | 934 | 1038 | 826 | 823 | |
| Median score (range) | 44 (32–46) | 48 (47–49) | 51 (50–52) | 54 (53–55) | 58 (56–71) | |
| Female, n (%) | 488 (55.1) | 535 (57.3) | 609 (58.7) | 490 (59.3) | 519 (63.1) | |
| Age, years | 49.9 (8.6) | 50.9 (8.9) | 51.9 (9.1) | 52.4 (8.7) | 53.7 (9.1) | |
| Residential location, n (%) | ||||||
| Rural, Ansung | 400 (45.2) | 436 (46.7) | 515 (49.6) | 425 (51.5) | 482 (58.6) | |
| Urban, Ansan | 486 (54.8) | 498 (53.3) | 523 (50.4) | 401 (48.5) | 341 (41.4) | |
| Edu Education level, n (%) | ||||||
| ≤6 years | 215 (24.3) | 283 (30.3) | 333 (32.1) | 292 (35.4) | 350 (42.5) | |
| 7–12 years | 518 (58.5) | 519 (55.6) | 591 (56.9) | 446 (54.0) | 411 (49.9) | |
| >12 years | 153 (17.2) | 132 (14.1) | 114 (11.0) | 88 (10.6) | 62 (7.6) | |
| Pack-years of cigarettes, pack/year | 7.9 ± 13.9 | 8.2 ± 15.9 | 7.8 ± 15.4 | 7.8 ± 14.9 | 8.1 ± 16.1 | |
| Alcohol intake, g/day | 10.0 ± 21.0 | 9.7 ± 22.0 | 8.9 ± 19.7 | 7.4 ± 16.6 | 7.4 ± 20.8 | |
| Body Mass Index, kg/m2 | 23.9 ± 3.0 | 23.9 ± 3.0 | 24.0 ± 3.2 | 23.9 ± 3.3 | 24.3 ± 3.2 | |
| Physical activity, MET/day | 21.7 ± 14.8 | 23.2 ± 15.0 | 23.6 ± 15.2 | 25.1 ± 15.6 | 26.2 ± 15.8 | |
| Total energy intake, kcal/day | 2045 ± 696 | 1955 ± 636 | 1907 ± 597 | 1912 ± 588 | 1846 ± 589 | |
| Triglycerides, mmol/L | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | |
| LDL-C, mmol/L | 3.0 ± 0.6 | 2.9 ± 0.7 | 3.0 ± 0.7 | 2.9 ± 0.7 | 2.9 ± 0.6 | |
| HDL-C, mmol/L | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.2 | |
| Total cholesterol, mmol/L | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.9 ± 0.7 | |
| Healthy plant food, servings/day | 9.4 ± 4.7 | 10.5 ± 4.7 | 10.9 ± 5.0 | 12.1 ± 4.9 | 12.8 ± 5.1 | |
| Less healthy plant food, servings/day | 6.3 ± 2.7 | 6.7 ± 2.8 | 7.0 ± 2.9 | 7.4 ± 3.0 | 7.8 ± 3.1 | |
| Animal food, servings/day | 3.9 ± 2.7 | 3.4 ± 1.9 | 3.1 ± 1.8 | 3.0 ± 1.7 | 2.4 ± 1.5 | |
| Healthful plant-based diet index | ||||||
| Sample size, n | 890 | 959 | 788 | 982 | 888 | |
| Median score (range) | 43 (30~45) | 48 (46~49) | 51 (50~52) | 54 (53~56) | 59 (57~73) | |
| Female, n (%) | 409 (46.0) | 507 (52.9) | 457 (58.0) | 622 (63.3) | 888 (72.8) | |
| Age, years | 49.0 (8.3) | 51.2 (8.9) | 51.8 (9.0) | 52.7 (9.0) | 53.6 (9.0) | |
| Residential location, n (%) | ||||||
| Rural, Ansung | 293 (32.9) | 458 (47.8) | 426 (54.1) | 557 (56.7) | 524 (59.0) | |
| Urban, Ansan | 597 (67.1) | 501 (52.2) | 362 (45.9) | 425 (43.3) | 364 (41.0) | |
| Education level, n (%) | ||||||
| ≤6 years | 188 (21.1) | 274 (28.6) | 263 (33.4) | 371 (37.8) | 377 (42.5) | |
| 7–12 years | 543 (61.0) | 562 (58.6) | 428 (54.3) | 505 (51.4) | 447 (50.3) | |
| >12 years | 159 (17.9) | 123 (12.8) | 97 (12.3) | 106 (10.8) | 64 (7.2) | |
| Pack-years of cigarettes, pack/year | 10.2 ± 16.2 | 8.8 ± 14.9 | 8.1 ± 15.9 | 7.0 ± 13.8 | 5.7 ± 15.2 | |
| Alcohol intake, g/day | 11.6 ± 22.2 | 9.7 ± 20.7 | 8.7 ± 19.6 | 7.3 ± 17.3 | 6.6 ± 20.4 | |
| Body Mass Index, kg/m2 | 24.1 ± 3.0 | 23.8 ± 3.0 | 23.8 ± 3.1 | 24.1 ± 3.3 | 24.2 ± 3.3 | |
| Physical activity, MET/day | 21.6 ± 14.3 | 23.4 ± 15.8 | 25.0 ± 15.0 | 24.6 ± 15.6 | 25.0 ± 15.5 | |
| Total energy intake, kcal/day | 1929 ± 607 | 2007 ± 647 | 1952 ± 630 | 1888 ± 609 | 1894 ± 629 | |
| Triglycerides, mmol/L | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | |
| LDL-C, mmol/L | 3.0 ± 0.6 | 3.0 ± 0.6 | 2.9 ± 0.7 | 2.9 ± 0.7 | 2.9 ± 0.7 | |
| HDL-C, mmol/L | 1.4 ± 0.2 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | |
| Total cholesterol, mmol/L | 5.0 ± 0.7 | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.8 ± 0.7 | |
| Healthy plant food, servings/day | 9.2 ± 4.2 | 10.9 ± 5.4 | 11.1 ± 5.0 | 11.5 ± 4.9 | 12.6 ± 5.0 | |
| Less healthy plant food, servings/day | 8.4 ± 3.0 | 7.8 ± 2.8 | 7.2 ± 2.9 | 6.3 ± 2.5 | 5.4 ± 2.5 | |
| Animal food, servings/day | 3.8 ± 1.9 | 3.7 ± 2.1 | 3.3 ± 2.1 | 2.8 ± 1.6 | 2.3 ± 1.5 | |
| Unhealthful plant-based diet index | ||||||
| Sample size, n | 902 | 885 | 995 | 955 | 770 | |
| Median score (range) | 44 (30–46) | 49 (47–50) | 52 (51–54) | 57 (55–59) | 62 (60–75) | |
| Female, n (%) | 642 (71.2) | 535 (60.5) | 565 (56.8) | 485 (50.8) | 414 (53.8) | |
| Age, years | 48.7 (7.8) | 50.1 (8.4) | 51.8 (8.9) | 52.7 (9.2) | 55.4 (9.1) | |
| Residential location, n (%) | ||||||
| Rural, Ansung | 248 (27.5) | 339 (38.3) | 488 (49.1) | 588 (61.6) | 595 (77.3) | |
| Urban, Ansan | 654 (72.5) | 546 (61.7) | 507 (50.9) | 367 (38.4) | 175 (22.7) | |
| Education level, n (%) | ||||||
| ≤6 years | 132 (14.6) | 223 (25.2) | 331 (33.3) | 387 (40.5) | 400 (52.0) | |
| 7–12 years | 595 (66.0) | 529 (59.8) | 547 (55.0) | 483 (50.6) | 331 (43.0) | |
| >12 years | 175 (19.4) | 133 (15.0) | 117 (11.7) | 85 (8.9) | 39 (5.0) | |
| Pack-years of cigarettes, pack/year | 5.0 ± 12.6 | 7.6 ± 14.4 | 8.0 ± 15.2 | 9.7 ± 16.6 | 9.6 ± 16.8 | |
| Alcohol intake, g/day | 6.7 ± 16.3 | 8.9 ± 19.5 | 9.4 ± 21.3 | 10.2 ± 23.3 | 8.4 ± 19.3 | |
| Body Mass Index, kg/m2 | 24.1 ± 3.1 | 24.2 ± 3.2 | 24.2 ± 3.1 | 23.9 ± 3.1 | 23.8 ± 3.3 | |
| Physical activity, MET/day | 20.6 ± 12.7 | 22.9 ± 14.2 | 23.9 ± 16.1 | 25.8 ± 16.1 | 26.8 ± 16.8 | |
| Total energy intake, kcal/day | 2075 ± 583 | 2054 ± 633 | 1931 ± 648 | 1875 ± 626 | 1707 ± 556 | |
| Triglycerides, mmol/L | 1.1 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.3 ± 0.4 | |
| LDL-C, mmol/L | 2.9 ± 0.6 | 3.0 ± 0.6 | 3.0 ± 0.6 | 2.9 ± 0.7 | 2.9 ± 0.7 | |
| HDL-C, mmol/L | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 | |
| Total cholesterol, mmol/L | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.9 ± 0.7 | 4.8 ± 0.7 | |
| Healthy plant food, servings/day | 14.7 ± 5.0 | 12.8 ± 4.7 | 11.1 ± 4.3 | 9.3 ± 3.7 | 7.0 ± 3.5 | |
| Less healthy plant food, servings/day | 5.9 ± 2.5 | 6.6 ± 2.8 | 7.1 ± 3.0 | 7.5 ± 3.0 | 8.0 ± 3.0 | |
| Animal food, servings/day | 4.5 ± 2.1 | 3.8 ± 1.9 | 3.2 ± 1.6 | 2.5 ± 1.5 | 1.7 ± 1.2 | |
Data are expressed as mean± SD or n (%). Abbreviations: HDL-C, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol; MET, Metabolic equivalent of task.