Table 2 Comparison of healthy eating index components based on HEI-2015 quartiles

Adequacy

 Total fruits^a

0.40 (0.50)

0.70 (0.60)

0.80 (0.60)

1.00 (0.50)

 < 0.001*

 Whole Fruits^a

0.40 (0.50)

0.70 (0.50)

0.80 (0.60)

0.90 (0.50)

 < 0.001*

 Total vegetables^a

0.90 (0.70)

1.4 (0.90)

1.4 (0.90)

1.6 (0.8)

 < 0.001*

 Greens and beans^a

0.20 (0.20)

0.30 (0.20)

0.40 (0.30)

0.40 (0.30)

 < 0.001*

 Whole grains^a

0.40 (0.80)

0.80 (1.20)

1.30 (1.30)

1.70 (1.10)

 < 0.001*

 Dairy^a

0.20 (0.30)

0.40 (0.30)

0.40 (0.30)

0.50 (0.30)

 < 0.001*

 Total protein foods^a

1.70 (1.40)

2.70 (1.50)

2.70 (1.30)

2.70 (1.20)

 < 0.001*

 Seafood and plant proteins^a

0.70 (0.80)

1.30 (0.90)

1.30 (1.10)

1.40 (1.0)

 < 0.001*

 Unsaturated to saturated Fatty acids ratio^b

2.50 (1.10)

2.60 (0.90)

2.70 (0.80)

2.70 (0.60)

0.005*

Moderation

 Refined grains^a

6.90 (4.40)

7.20 (4.10)

6.10 (3.80)

4.30 (4.00)

 < 0.001*

 Sodium^c

0.90 (0.50)

1.00 (0.60)

1.00 (0.50)

0.90 (0.30)

 < 0.001*

 Added sugars, % kcal

15.8 (10.5)

22.7 (9.4)

24.6 (12.8)

25.5 (9.5)

 < 0.001*

 Saturated fats, % kcal

5.50 (3.50)

6.60 (3.30)

6.60 (2.30)

6.90 (1.90)

 < 0.001*

The total score of HEI-2015

0–100

56.3 (7.1)

63.10 (2.4)

67.8 (2.4)

72.9 (3.4)

 < 0.001*

Adequacy

 Total fruits score

0–5

2.40 (2.90)

4.50 (2.10)

5.00 (1.50)

5.00 (4.40)

 < 0.001*

 Whole Fruits score

0–5

4.70 (2.40)

5.00 (0.00)

5.00 (0.00)

5.00 (0.00)

 < 0.001*

 Total vegetable score

0–5

4.10 (1.90)

5.00 (0.40)

5.00 (0.20)

5.00 (0.00)

 < 0.001*

 Greens and beans score

0–5

4.80 (2.30)

5.00 (0.00)

5.00 (0.00)

5.00 (0.00)

 < 0.001*

 Whole grains score

0–10

2.60 (5.10)

5.20 (7.60)

8.40 (4.70)

10.00 (2.00)

 < 0.001*

 Dairy score

0–10

1.90 (2.20)

2.90 (2.40)

3.20 (2.40)

3.90 (2.60)

 < 0.001*

 Total protein foods score

0–5

3.40 (2.50)

5.00 (1.00)

5.00 (0.80)

5.00 (0.50)

 < 0.001*

 Seafood and plant proteins score

0–5

4.40 (2.80)

5.00 (0.00)

5.00 (0.00)

5.00 (0.00)

 < 0.001*

 Unsaturated to saturated Fatty acids ratio score

0–10

9.90 (3.90)

10.00 (1.50)

10.00 (1.30)

10.00 (0.50)

 < 0.001*

Moderation

 Refined grains score

0–10

0.00 (0.00)

0.00 (0.00)

0.00 (0.30)

0.00 (0.60)

 < 0.001*

 Sodium^c

0–10

10.00 (0.90)

10.00 (2.90)

10.00 (1.60)

10.00 (0.20)

 < 0.001*

 Added sugars score

0–10

5.20 (5.40)

2.30 (4.50)

0.70 (3.60)

0.20 (2.50)

 < 0.001*

 Saturated fats score

0–10

10.00 (0.00)

10.00 (0.80)

10.00 (0.20)

10.00 (0.00)

0.009*