Table 2 Baseline characteristics and dietary intakes of the participants in the tertiles empirical dietary index for hyperinsulinemia (EDIH)

Age (year)

42.7 ± 8.2

41.4 ± 7.2

41.4 ± 7.2

0.244

Sex (male, %)

47.9

46.7

62.5

0.017

BMI (Kg/m²)

27.5 ± 2.2

27.1 ± 2.3

27.8 ± 2.2

0.251

Physical activity (MET.min/Wk.)

1492 ± 858

1672 ± 1071

1327 ± 689

0.049

Smoking (yes, %)

2.5

8.6

5.9

0.140

Household dimension (≤ 4 people), n (%)

75 (63.0)

69 (65.7)

98 (72.1)

0.286

Education level (bachelor and higher), n (%)

43 (36.1)

53 (50.5)

64 (47.1)

0.072

Housing status (landlord), n (%)

77 (64.7)

66 (62.9)

98 (72.1)

0.236

Socio-economic status (SES), n (%)

 Poor

49 (41.2)

41 (39.0)

48 (35.3)

0.189-

 Medium

46 (38.7)

37 (35.2)

51 (37.5)

-

 High

24 (20.2)

27 (25.7)

37 (27.2)

-

Energy intake (kcal/day)

2077 ± 604

2217 ± 643

2445 ± 649

 < 0.001

Carbohydrates (% of energy)

57.3 ± 6.7

57.0 ± 5.8

54.5 ± 7.1

 < 0.001

Protein (% of energy)

13.0 ± 2.0

13.4 ± 2.1

13.8 ± 2.7

0.015

Fat (% of energy)

29.7 ± 6.7

29.6 ± 5.7

31.7 ± 7.1

0.009

Empirical dietary index for hyperinsulinemia (EDIH) components

 Red meat (portion per day)^a

0.09 (0.05—0.14)

0.12 (0.06—0.17)

0.16 (0.08—0.25)

 < 0.001

 Processed meat (portion per day)^a

0.010 (0.002—0.030)

0.014 (0.002—0.033)

0.020 (0.006—0.055)

0.002

 Margarine (portion per day)

0 (0—0)

0 (0—0)

0 (0—0.1667)

 < 0.001

 Chicken (portion per day)^a

0.09 (0.08—0.17)

0.11 (0.09—0.21)

0.18 (0.09—0.34)

 < 0.001

 Butter (portion per day)

0.05 (0—0.17)

0.33 (0—0.71)

1.43 (0.33—2.86)

 < 0.001

 French fries (portion per day)^b

0.01 (0—0.03)

0.02 (0.01—0.04)

0.04 (0.08—0.06)

 < 0.001

 Fish (portion per day)^b

0.05 (0.03—0.10)

0.05 (0.03—0.12)

0.07 (0.04—0.13)

0.033

 High-energy beverages (daily portion)

0.04 (0.00—0.05)

0.04 (0.00—0.08)

0.04 (0.00—0.16)

0.001

 Tomatoes (portion per day)

0.62 ± 0.42

0.88 ± 0.54

1.14 ± 0.82

 < 0.001

 Low fat dairy (portion per day)

0.92 ± 0.73

1.01 ± 0.85

1.00 ± 0.77

0.477

 Eggs (portion per day)

0.13 (0.06—0.27)

0.27 (0.13—0.4015)

0.27 (0.13—0.47)

 < 0.001

 Coffee (portion per day)

0.68 (0—8.33)

0.69 (0—8.33)

0.70 (0—8.33)

0.363

 Whole fruit (portion per day)

3.7 ± 1.5

3.4 ± 1.2

3.2 ± 1.1

0.008

 High-fat dairy (portion per day)

1.2 ± 1.1

0.9 ± 0.5

1.00 ± 0.6

0.056

 Green leafy vegetables (portion per day)

0.27 (0.16—0.52)

0.25 (0.14—0.53)

0.26 (0.15—0.49)

0.580