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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Aug 17.
Published in final edited form as: J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021 Aug 17;78(7):666–678. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.05.049

TABLE 2.

Pooled Associations Between Lignans Intake and CHD Risk in NHS (1984–2014), NHSII (1991–2017), HPFS (1986–2016)a

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 P for Trendb
Total lignans
 Median (IQR), μg/dc 167.1 (146.1–182.9) 215.3 (204.1–227.1) 254.5 (242.6–267.6) 302.7 (286.3–320.5) 405.2 (362.0–491.8)
 Total CHD
  Case/person-year 2,344/1,099,137 2,128/1,101,960 2,002/1,104,119 1,977/1,105,423 1,793/1,106,586
  Age-adjusted 1 0.85 (0.80–0.90) 0.79 (0.74–0.84) 0.75 (0.71–0.80) 0.65 (0.61–0.69) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.94 (0.89–1.00) 0.93 (0.87–0.99) 0.93 (0.87–1.00) 0.85 (0.79–0.92) <0.001
 Nonfatal MI
  Case/person-year 1,398/1,099,145 1,316/1,101,965 1,231/1,104,121 1,252/1,105,427 1,086/1,106,594
  Age-adjusted 1 0.89 (0.82–0.96) 0.81 (0.75–0.88) 0.80 (0.75–0.87) 0.67 (0.62–0.72) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.96 (0.89–1.04) 0.94 (0.86–1.02) 0.98 (0.90–1.07) 0.88 (0.80–0.97) 0.07
 Fatal CHD
  Case/person-year 946/1,100,426 812/1,103,217 771/1,105,286 725/1,106,584 707/1,107,604
  Age-adjusted 1 0.80 (0.72–0.87) 0.75 (0.68–0.82) 0.68 (0.61–0.75) 0.63 (0.57–0.69) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.91 (0.83–1.00) 0.92 (0.83–1.02) 0.87 (0.78–0.97) 0.82 (0.73–0.92) 0.002
Matairesinol
 Median (IQR), μg/dc 4.5 (3.9–5.2) 6.5 (5.7–7.2) 8.5 (7.3–9.6) 11.5 (9.9–13.0) 18.9 (15.9–24.2)
 Total CHD
  Case/person-year 2,387/1,096,970 2,114/1,101,975 1,999/1,104,802 1,903/1,106,655 1,841/1,106,820
  Age-adjusted 1 0.86 (0.81–0.91) 0.78 (0.74–0.83) 0.70 (0.66–0.74) 0.61 (0.57–0.64) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.93 (0.87–0.99) 0.89 (0.84–0.94) 0.83 (0.78–0.89) 0.76 (0.71–0.82) <0.001
 Nonfatal MI
  Case/person-year 1,419/1,096,978 1,259/1,101,981 1,273/1,104,807 1,214/1,106,660 1,118/1,106,826
  Age-adjusted 1 0.86 (0.80–0.93) 0.85 (0.79–0.91) 0.77 (0.71–0.83) 0.66 (0.61–0.72) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.89 (0.82–0.96) 0.90 (0.83–0.97) 0.85 (0.78–0.92) 0.77 (0.71–0.84) <0.001
 Fatal CHD
  Case/person-year 968/1,098,295 855/1,103,132 726/1,105,989 689/1,107,811 723/1,107,888
  Age-adjusted 1 0.86 (0.78–0.94) 0.69 (0.63–0.76) 0.60 (0.54–0.66) 0.53 (0.48–0.59) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.99 (0.90–1.09) 0.86 (0.78–0.95) 0.80 (0.72–0.89) 0.76 (0.68–0.84) <0.001
Secoisolariciresinol
 Median (IQR), μg/dc 49.9 (42.0–55.7) 67.9 (63.8–71.7) 81.1 (77.2–84.9) 95.6 (90.9–100.5) 122.9 (111.6–149.8)
 Total CHD
  Case/person-year 2,197/1,099,679 2,186/1,102,049 2,010/1,103,139 2,006/1,105,836 1,845/1,106,520
  Age-adjusted 1 0.90 (0.85–0.96) 0.81 (0.76–0.86) 0.78 (0.74–0.83) 0.70 (0.66–0.74) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.99 (0.93–1.05) 0.92 (0.86–0.98) 0.93 (0.87–1.00) 0.87 (0.81–0.93) 0.001
 Nonfatal MI
  Case/person-year 1,299/1,099,683 1,334/1,102,056 1,230/1,103,147 1,266/1,105,841 1,154/1,106,526
  Age-adjusted 1 0.95 (0.88–1.03) 0.85 (0.79–0.92) 0.85 (0.79–0.92) 0.75 (0.69–0.81) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 1.01 (0.94–1.10) 0.94 (0.87–1.02) 0.98 (0.90–1.07) 0.92 (0.84–1.00) 0.19
 Fatal CHD
  Case/person-year 898/1,100,909 852/1,103,281 780/1,104,294 740/1,107,030 691/1,107,602
  Age-adjusted 1 0.82 (0.75–0.91) 0.74 (0.67–0.82) 0.69 (0.62–0.76) 0.62 (0.56–0.69) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.95 (0.86–1.04) 0.89 (0.80–0.98) 0.87 (0.78–0.96) 0.80 (0.72–0.90) <0.001
Pinoresinol
 Median (IQR), μg/dc 34.3 (29.3–38.6) 47.3 (43.9–51.0) 58.8 (54.9–62.8) 73.3 (68.5–78.4) 102.6 (91.6–122.4)
 Total CHD
  Case/person-year 2,454/1,097,715 2,064/1,102,943 1,945/1,104,651 1,973/1,105,866 1,808/1,106,048
  Age-adjusted 1 0.83 (0.78–0.88) 0.77 (0.72–0.82) 0.76 (0.71–0.80) 0.67 (0.63–0.71) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.92 (0.87–0.98) 0.91 (0.86–0.97) 0.95 (0.89–1.02) 0.89 (0.83–0.95) 0.002
 Nonfatal MI
  Case/person-year 1,474/1,097,720 1,280/1,102,949 1,205/1,104,654 1,236/1,105,871 1,088/1,106,056
  Age-adjusted 1 0.85 (0.79–0.91) 0.79 (0.73–0.85) 0.79 (0.73–0.85) 0.67 (0.62–0.73) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.92 (0.85–0.99) 0.90 (0.83–0.98) 0.95 (0.88–1.03) 0.89 (0.81–0.97) 0.03
 Fatal CHD
  Case/person-year 980/1,099,077 784/1,104,155 740/1,105,785 737/1,107,047 720/1,107,053
  Age-adjusted 1 0.80 (0.72–0.87) 0.74 (0.68–0.82) 0.71 (0.65–0.79) 0.66 (0.60–0.73) 0.0001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.93 (0.85–1.03) 0.93 (0.84–1.03) 0.96 (0.86–1.06) 0.89 (0.80–0.99) 0.05
Lariciresinol
 Median (IQR), μg/dc 63.7 (55.3–70.0) 84.1 (79.6–88.9) 101.9 (97.2–106.9) 123.9 (117.5–131.2) 166.7 (150.9–194.0)
 Total CHD
  Case/person-year 2,390/1,099,878 2,041/1,102,948 1,991/1,104,893 1,935/1,104,805 1,887/1,104,696
  Age-adjusted 1 0.82 (0.78–0.87) 0.80 (0.75–0.85) 0.76 (0.71–0.81) 0.70 (0.66–0.74) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.92 (0.86–0.97) 0.94 (0.88–1.00) 0.92 (0.86–0.99) 0.89 (0.83–0.95) 0.003
 Nonfatal MI
  Case/person-year 1,444/1,099,886 1,248/1,102,954 1,266/1,104,898 1,225/1,104,811 1,100/1,104,701
  Age-adjusted 1 0.84 (0.77–0.90) 0.83 (0.77–0.90) 0.79 (0.73–0.85) 0.68 (0.63–0.74) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.91 (0.84–0.99) 0.96 (0.89–1.04) 0.95 (0.88–1.04) 0.88 (0.80–0.97) 0.04
 Fatal CHD
  Case/person-year 946/1,101,229 793/1,104,119 725/1,106,115 710/1,105,937 787/1,105,716
  Age-adjusted 1 0.80 (0.73–0.88) 0.74 (0.67–0.82) 0.71 (0.64–0.78) 0.73 (0.66–0.80) <0.001
  Multivariable-adjustedd 1 0.92 (0.83–1.01) 0.90 (0.81–0.99) 0.87 (0.79–0.97) 0.89 (0.80–1.00) 0.04

Values are hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) unless otherwise indicated.

a

Hazard ratios were meta-analyzed using fixed effect models.

b

Median value in each quintile category was used to calculate P value for trend.

c

Data were combined from 3 cohorts to calculate the median (IQR).

d

Models were age- (months) and calendar-time stratified and adjusted for ethnicity (White, Black, Asian, others), smoking status (never smoked, past smoker, currently smoke 1–14 cigarettes per day, 15–24 cigarettes per day, or $25 cigarettes per day), time-varying body mass index (<21.0, 21.0–22.9, 23.0–24.9, 25.0–26.9, 27.0–29.9, 30.0–32.9, 33.0–34.9, or $35.0 kg/m2), alcohol intake (0, 0.1–4.9, 5.0– 9.9, 10.0–14.9, 15.0–29.9, and $30.0 g/d), multivitamin use (yes, no), physical activity (quintiles), healthy plant-based diet index (quintiles), and family history of myocardial infarction. For women, postmenopausal hormone use (premenopausal, never, former, current, or missing), and oral contraceptive use were further adjusted.

CHD = coronary heart disease; IQR = interquartile range; other abbreviations as in Table 1.