Baseline cardiovascular risk factors by quintiles of chocolate intake in 20 951 men and women of EPIC-Norfolk
| Quintiles of daily chocolate intake | Quintile 1 | Quintile 2 | Quintile 3 | Quintile 4 | Quintile 5 | p Value | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range (g/day) | 0 | 0.6–3.5 | 4.1–7.0 | 7.2–15.5 | 15.6–98.8 | ||
| Median (IQR) (g/day) | |||||||
| Chocolate intake | 0 | 1.1 (0.6, 3.4) | 4.6 (4.1, 6.3) | 9.2 (8.1, 12.0) | 24.9 (22.1, 39.5) | ||
| Chocolate singles | 0 | 0.6 (0.0, 1.1) | 0.6 (0.6, 1.1) | 1.1 (0.6, 3.4) | 1.1 (0.6, 3.4) | ||
| Chocolate bars | 0 | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 3.5 (3.5, 3.5) | 7.0 (0.0, 7.0) | 21.5 (21.5, 21.5) | ||
| Chocolate beverage | 0 | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.8) | 0.8 (0.0, 5.2) | 0.0 (0.0, 5.2) | ||
| N | 4195 | 4437 | 4035 | 4106 | 4178 | 20 951 | |
| Sex, men | 44.1 (1852) | 43.4 (1927) | 40.8 (1648) | 43.5 (1786) | 47.9 (2001) | <0.001 | 44.0 (9214) |
| Age, years | 61±9 | 60±9 | 58±9 | 59±9 | 57±9 | <0.001 | 59±9 |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 26.3±4.1 | 26.1±3.8 | 26.3±3.7 | 26.2±3.8 | 26.0±3.7 | <0.001 | 26.2±3.8 |
| Waist/hip ratio* | 0.86±0.09 | 0.85±0.09 | 0.84±0.09 | 0.85±0.09 | 0.85±0.09 | <0.001 | 0.85±0.09 |
| Smoking | |||||||
| Current | 10.5 (440) | 10.7 (473) | 11.4 (459) | 11.4 (469) | 13.0 (543) | <0.001 | 11.4 (2384) |
| Previous | 44.0 (1847) | 43.1 (1914) | 40.1 (1618) | 40.9 (1678) | 38.5 (1610) | 41.4 (8667) | |
| Never | 45.5 (1908) | 46.2 (2050) | 48.5 (1958) | 47.7 (1959) | 48.5 (2025) | 47.3 (9900) | |
| Diabetes mellitus | 4.6 (193) | 1.6 (73) | 0.9 (38) | 0.9 (38) | 0.7 (29) | <0.001 | 1.8 (371) |
| Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg | 137±19 | 136±18 | 134±18 | 134±18 | 135±17 | <0.001 | 135±18 |
| Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg | 83±11 | 83±11 | 82±11 | 82±11 | 82±11 | 0.010 | 82±11 |
| Total cholesterol, mmol/L | 6.2±1.1 | 6.2±1.1 | 6.1±1.1 | 6.1±1.1 | 6.1±1.1 | 0.001 | 6.1±1.1 |
| LDL cholesterol, mmol/L | 4.0±1.0 | 4.0±1.0 | 3.9±1.0 | 4.0±1.0 | 3.9±1.0 | 0.07 | 4.0±1.0 |
| HDL cholesterol, mmol/L | 1.43±0.43 | 1.43±0.42 | 1.44±0.42 | 1.43±0.41 | 1.40±0.41 | <0.001 | 1.43±0.42 |
| Triglycerides, mmol/L | 1.5 (1.1–2.2) | 1.5 (1.1–2.1) | 1.5 (1.0–2.1) | 1.5 (1.1–2.1) | 1.5 (1.1–2.1) | 0.20 | 1.5 (1.1–2.1) |
| Apolipoprotein AI, mg/dL* | 156±35 | 157±35 | 157±35 | 156±34 | 155±36 | 0.29 | 156±35 |
| Apolipoprotein B, mg/dL* | 97±26 | 97±25 | 96±25 | 96±26 | 94±25 | 0.001 | 96±26 |
| CRP, mg/L* | 1.6 (0.8–3.2) | 1.5 (0.7–3.2) | 1.5 (0.7–3.2) | 1.4 (0.7–3.1) | 1.4 (0.7–2.9) | <0.001 | 1.5 (0.7–3.1) |
| Physical activity | |||||||
| Inactive | 32.7 (1373) | 28.6 (1267) | 26.9 (1084) | 27.6 (1134) | 27.2 (1138) | <0.001 | 28.6 (5996) |
| Moderately inactive | 27.5 (1153) | 30.2 (1340) | 29.4 (1188) | 30.2 (1241) | 28.1 (1174) | 29.1 (6096) | |
| Moderately active | 21.8 (914) | 23.7 (1051) | 24.1 (971) | 22.8 (936) | 24.3 (1015) | 23.3 (4887) | |
| Active | 18.0 (755) | 17.6 (779) | 19.6 (792) | 19.4 (795) | 20.4 (851) | 19.0 (3972) | |
| Energy intake by FFQ, kJ/day | 7754±2264 | 8043±2233 | 8359±2311 | 8934±2411 | 9854±2664 | <0.001 | 8584±2494 |
| Protein intake by FFQ, %en | 17.4±3.4 | 17.3±3.2 | 17.1±3.0 | 16.7±2.9 | 15.5±2.7 | <0.001 | 16.9±3.2 |
| Fat intake by FFQ, %en | 32.8±6.7 | 33.8±6.2 | 34.3±6.1 | 34.7±5.7 | 35.8±5.4 | <0.001 | 34.3±6.1 |
| Carbohydrate intake by FFQ, %en | 47.8±7.0 | 47.3±6.3 | 47.3±6.1 | 47.8±5.7 | 48.0±5.5 | <0.001 | 47.7±6.2 |
| Alcohol intake by FFQ, %en | 3.3±5.3 | 3.4±4.7 | 3.1±4.2 | 2.7±3.6 | 2.5±3.5 | <0.001 | 3.0±4.3 |
| Alcohol intake by HLQ, units/week | 3 (1–10) | 4 (2–11) | 4 (2–10) | 4 (1–9) | 4 (1–10) | <0.001 | 4 (1–10) |
Data are presented as mean±SD, percentage (number) or median (IQR). Differences between groups were analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables, and by χ2 test for categorical variables. Continuous variables with a skewed distribution (triglycerides, CRP, alcohol intake) were analysed by the Kruskal-Wallis test.
*These variables have missing data: Nwaist/hip ratio=20 928; NApoAI=16 035; NApoB=16 022; NCRP=16 162.
CRP, C-reactive protein; EPIC, European Prospective Investigation into Cancer; FFQ; food frequency questionnaire; HDL, high density lipoprotein; HLQ, Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire; LDL, low density lipoprotein.