Table 2.
Characteristics of subjects according to quartile group for alpha (α)-tocopherol.
| Total (n = 4448) |
α-Tocopherol | p-Value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 * (n = 1112) |
Q2 * (n = 1112) |
Q3 * (n = 1112) |
Q4 * (n = 1112) |
||
| Age (years) | 46.0 ± 17.7 | 48.2 ± 16.3 | 52.5 ± 15.1 | 54.6 ± 13.7 | <0.001 |
| Sex (male) | 481 (43.3) | 415 (37.3) | 403 (36.2) | 378 (34.0) | <0.001 |
| Income | 0.006 | ||||
| 1st quartile (lowest) | 311 (28.0) | 278 (25.0) | 277 (24.9) | 227 (20.5) | |
| 2nd quartile | 273 (24.6) | 279 (25.1) | 269 (24.2) | 298 (26.8) | |
| 3rd quartile | 285 (25.6) | 292 (26.2) | 271 (24.4) | 293 (26.3) | |
| 4th quartile (highest) | 243 (21.8) | 263 (23.7) | 295 (26.5) | 294 (26.4) | |
| SBP (mmHg) | 113.9 ± 15.7 | 116.0 ± 16.4 | 119.6 ± 17.1 | 121.5 ± 16.9 | <0.001 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.3 ± 3.7 | 23.6 ± 3.5 | 23.9 ± 3.4 | 24.3 ± 3.4 | <0.001 |
| FBG (mg/dL) | 98.8 ± 24.0 | 98.0 ± 19.5 | 101.5 ± 27.3 | 104.1 ± 27.4 | <0.001 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 167.4 ± 29.9 | 186.1 ± 27.9 | 200.0 ± 32.4 | 216.8 ± 37.6 | <0.001 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 93.7 ± 49.6 | 110.8 ± 65.3 | 131.9 ± 71.1 | 178.7 ± 140.7 | <0.001 |
| HDL-C (mg/dL) | 49.7 ± 10.8 | 51.8 ± 12.3 | 52.1 ± 13.5 | 51.5 ± 13.6 | 0.001 |
| GFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 93.6 ± 20.1 | 91.0 ± 18.4 | 88.7 ± 18.1 | 87.0 ± 21.3 | <0.001 |
| Hypertension | 279 (25.1) | 289 (26.0) | 369 (33.2) | 388 (34.9) | <0.001 |
| Diabetes | 139 (12.5) | 100 (9.0) | 132 (11.9) | 160 (14.4) | <0.001 |
| Dyslipidemia | 341 (30.7) | 346 (31.1) | 481 (43.3) | 654 (58.8) | <0.001 |
| Current smoker | 167 (15.0) | 104 (9.4) | 131 (11.8) | 139 (12.5) | 0.003 |
| Alcohol consumption | 407 (36.6) | 458 (41.2) | 419 (37.7) | 392 (35.3) | 0.03 |
| Regular exercise | 471 (42.4) | 482 (43.3) | 449 (40.4) | 493 (44.3) | 0.27 |
| Use of supplements | 478 (43.0) | 530 (47.7) | 619 (55.7) | 709 (63.8) | <0.001 |
| α-tocopherol level (mg/L) | 8.7 ± 1.3 | 11.4 ± 0.7 | 13.9 ± 0.9 | 20.3 ± 5.9 | <0.001 |
| <5 mg/L | 12 (1.1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| 5–20 mg/L | 1100 (98.9) | 1112 (100) | 1112 (100) | 729 (65.6) | |
| >20 mg/L | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 383 (34.4) | |
| NAFLD assessed by HSI | 192 (17.3) | 184 (16.5) | 225 (20.2) | 261 (23.5) | <0.001 |
| NAFLD assessed by FSI | 206 (18.5) | 205 (18.4) | 287 (25.8) | 396 (35.6) | <0.001 |
| NAFLD assessed by CNS | 398 (35.8) | 451 (40.6) | 572 (51.4) | 672 (60.4) | <0.001 |
Continuous variables are reported as mean with standard deviation, and categorical variables are reported as number with percentage. Serum α-tocopherol levels were categorized into quartiles. * Q1, <10.3 mg/L; Q2, 10.3–12.5 mg/L; Q3, 12.5–15.6 mg/L; and Q4, >15.6 mg/L. SBP, systolic blood pressure; BMI, body mass index; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; HSI, hepatic steatosis index; FBG, fasting blood glucose; FSI, Framingham steatosis index; CNS, comprehensive NAFLD score. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or number (%).