Table 1.
Components, Mean Intake, Scoring Standards, and Mean Score for the Comprehensive, Plant-Based, and Animal-Based Diet Quality Index among US Adults Aged 20+ Years, NHANES 1999-2014
| Components | Mean Intake (SD)1 | Max. Score | Standard for Max. Score | Standard for Min. Score of 0 | Mean Sore (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant-based Components | |||||
| Healthful | |||||
| Whole grains2 | 0.77 (0.55) | 5 | ≥ 1.5 oz. equiv./1,000 kcal | No whole grains | 1.27 (1.25, 1.28) |
| Vegetables excluding white potatoes3 | 1.16 (0.43) | 5 | ≥ 1.25 cup equiv./1,000 kcal | No vegetables excluding white potatoes | 2.30 (2.29, 2.32) |
| Whole fruits2 | 0.71 (0.55) | 5 | ≥ 0.4 cup equiv./1,000 kcal | No whole fruit | 3.20 (3.16,3.23) |
| Nuts/seeds/legumes3 | 0.68 (0.43) | 5 | ≥ 0.5 oz. equiv./1,000 kcal | No nuts, seeds or legumes | 3.00 (2.97, 3.02) |
| Vegetable oils4 | 17.9 (4.94) | 5 | Highest quintile | Lowest quintile | 2.59 (2.56, 2.63) |
| Coffee/tea4 | 2.01 (1.74) | 5 | Highest quintile | Lowest quintile | 2.58 (2.53, 2.62) |
| Unhealthful | |||||
| Fruit juices5 | 0.29 (0.26) | 5 | No fruit juices | ≥ 0.35 cup equiv./1,000 kcal | 3.18 (3.15, 3.20) |
| Refined grains2 | 5.63 (1.12) | 5 | ≤ 1.8 oz. equiv./1,000 kcal | ≥ 4.3 oz. equiv./1,000 kcal | 3.06 (3.04, 3.08) |
| White potatoes5 | 0.34 (0.11) | 5 | No white potatoes | ⩾0.35 cup equiv./1,000 kcal | 2.57 (2.56, 2.59) |
| Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB)3 | 1.43 (1.25) | 5 | No SSB | ≥ 1 cup equiv./day | 1.34 (1.30, 1.37) |
| Sweets and desserts4 | 1.77 (9.75) | 5 | Highest quintile | Lowest quintile | 2.49 (2.45, 2.52) |
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| Plant-based diet quality index (pDQI) | 55 | range: 0-55 | 27.6 (27.4, 27.7) | ||
| Animal-based Components | |||||
| Healthful | |||||
| Fish/seafood3 | 0.64 (0.32) | 5 | ≥ 0.5 oz./1,000 kcal | No fish or shellfish | 2.94 (2.92, 2.97) |
| Daily2 | 1.41 (0.51) | 5 | ≥ 1.3 cup equiv./1,000 kcal | No dairy | 2.76 (2.74, 2.78) |
| Poultry4 | 1.48 (0.45) | 5 | Highest quintile | Lowest quintile | 2.48 (2.44, 2.53) |
| Unhealthy | |||||
| Processed meats5 | 0.85 (0.35) | 5 | No processed meats | ≥ 1 oz. equiv./1,000 kcal | 2.87 (2.85, 2.89) |
| Red meats5 | 1.66 (0.48) | 5 | No red meats | ≥ 1.6 oz. equiv./1,000 kcal | 2.46 (2.44, 2.47) |
| Egg4 | 0.60 (0.28) | 5 | Lowest quintile | Highest quintile | 2.72 (2.69, 2.75) |
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| Animal-based diet quality index (aDQI) | 30 | range: 0-30 | 16.2 (16.2, 16.3) | ||
| Comprehensive Diet Quality Index (cDQI) | 85 | range: 0-85 | 43.8 (43.6, 44.0) |
Abbreviations: NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; SD, Standard Deviation; CI, confident intervals; SSB, sugar-sweetened beverages; pDQI, plant-based Diet Quality Index; aDQI, animal-based Diet Quality Index; cDQI, comprehensive Diet Quality Index.
Units are oz. equiv. for mean intake of whole grains, nuts/seeds/legumes, refined grains, fish/seafoods, poultry, processed meats, red meats, and eggs; cup equiv. for mean intake of whole fruits , fruit juices, vegetables excluding white potatoes, white potatoes, and dairy; 8-fluid oz. cup for mean intake of coffee/tea and SSB; and serving for mean intake of sweets and desserts; gram for vegetable oils. The conversion factors for conventional unit to metric unit vary by foods and food groups.(43) The approximate conversion factors are 1 cup equivalent fruits or vegetables is 100 grams; 1 cup equivalent legumes is 175 grams; 1 oz. equivalent whole or refine grains is 30 grams; 1 oz. equivalent fish/seafood, poultry, processed meat, unprocessed red meat, or nuts/seeds is 28.35 grams; 1 cup 8-fluid oz sugar-sweetened beverages, coffee, or tea is 226.8 grams, and 1 serving of sweets and desserts is 30 grams.
Scoring is based on scoring standards used in the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015. (23)
Scoring is based on scoring standards using in the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) adjusted to per 1,000 kcal (24).
Scoring is based on the scoring standards used in the Plant-Based Diet Index (PDI) by Satija et al. (19) The quintiles were Q1=13.0, Q2=15.5, Q3=17.6, Q4=19.8, and Q5=22.6 for vegetable oils (grams per 2,000 kcal); Q1=0.38, Q2=0.93, Q3=1.68, Q4=2.38, and Q5=3.43 for tea/coffee (cup equiv. per 2,000 kcal); Q1=6.8, Q2=2.5, Q3=2.0, Q4=1.65, and Q5=1.34 for sweets/desserts (serving per 2,000 kcal); Q1=1.05, Q2=1.22, Q3=1.40, Q4=1.61, and Q5=1.90 for poultry (oz. equiv. per 2,000kcal); and Q1=2.63, Q2=0.85, Q3=0.65, Q4=0.53, and Q5=0.43 for eggs (oz. equiv. per 2,000kcal).
Scoring is based on the scoring standards used in the American Heart Association (AHA) diet score based on the AHA 2020 Strategic Goals for Diet,(25) corresponding to 80th percentile of intake among U.S. adults in NHANES 1999-2014.