Table 1 Basic characteristic of study participants

Gender [n, (%)]

p^chi2 = .049

 Men

389

(57.0%)

393

(51.8%)

 Women

294

(43.0%)

366

(48.2%)

Age

p^MW = .010

 mean, (SD)

58.6

(8.0) ^$

57.5

(9.0) ^$

 median (Q1-Q3)

59.0

(53.0–65.0)

57.0

(50.0–65.0)

Dukes

[n = 464]

 A (T1, N0, M0)

32

(6.9%)

 B (T2, N0, M0)

100

(21.6%)

 B2 (T3–4, N0, M0)

97

(20.9%)

 C1 (T2, N1–3, M0)

24

(5.2%)

 C2 (T3–4, N1–3, M0)

98

(21.1%)

 D (Tx-4, Nx-3, M1)

113

(24.4%)

Histological grade

[n = 129]

 Grade 1 (G1)

31

(24.0%)

 Grade 2 (G2)

87

(67.4%)

 Grade 3 (G3)

11

(8.5%)

Leisure-time physical activity* [METs-h/week]

[n = 757]

p^MW = .301

 mean, (SD)

31.5

(26.4) ^$

31.4

(22.5) ^$

 median (Q1-Q3)

26.6

(11.6–43.9)

28.3

(13.6–43.8)

BMI [kg/m2]

[n = 757]

p^MW = .637

 mean, (SD)

27.4

(4.2)^$

27.6

(9.9) ^$

 median (Q1-Q3)

27.0

(24.5–29.7)

27.0

(24.2–29.9)

Smoking [n, (%)]

[n = 557]

[n = 675]

p^chi2 = .073

 Current smoker

149

(26.8%)

220

(32.6%)

 Past smoker

164

(29.4%)

175

(25.9%)

 Non-smoker

244

(43.8%)

280

(41.5%)

Dietary calcium [mg/d]

p^MW = .035

 mean (SD)

712

(299) ^$

783

(419) ^$

 median (Q1-Q3)

652

(496–856)

688

(491–929)

Dietary selenium [μg/d]

p^MW = .304

 mean (SD)

51

(17) ^$

55

(27) ^$

 median (Q1-Q3)

49

(39–59)

50

(38–64)

Total dietary fibre [g/day]

p^MW = .718

 mean (SD)

17.9

(6.5) ^$

18.5

(7.8) ^$

 median (Q1-Q3)

16.8

(13.1–21.4)

16.8

(12.9–22.0)

Pure alcohol** [g/week]

p^MW = .004

 mean (SD)

33.5

(67.7) ^$

30.9

(78.6) ^$

 median (Q1-Q3)

8.2

(2.8–32.2)

4.8

(2.4–25.5)

Vitamin C [mg/d]

p^MW = .381

 mean (SD)

93

(51) ^$

99

(62) ^$

 median (Q1-Q3)

78

(58–117)

82

(55–132)

Vitamin E [mg/d]

p^MW = .860

 mean (SD)

9.8

(4.8) ^$

10.2

(5.3) ^$

 median (Q1-Q3)

8.8

(6.7–11.5)

8.7

(6.4–12.6)

Taking mineral supplements [n, (%)]

102

(14.9%)

111

(14.6%)

p^chi2 = .869

Fish consumption [n, (%)]

p^chi2 = .891

 No

42

(6.2%)

48

(6.3%)

 Yes

641

(93.8%)

711

(93.7%)