Table 1 Baseline characteristics of participants by outcomes (N = 75,466)

Female, n (%)

42,192 (55.9)

39,785 (55.5)

2407 (63.1)

 < 0.001

40,233 (55.5)

1959 (67.3)

 < 0.001

Age (years)^a

55.8 (7.7)

56.0 (7.7)

52.6 (7.7)

 < 0.001

56.0 (7.7)

52.9 (7.7)

 < 0.001

TDI^a

 − 1.7 (2.8)

 − 1.7 (2.8)

 − 0.9 (3.1)

 < 0.001

 − 1.7 (2.8)

 − 1.1 (3.1)

 < 0.001

Education level, n (%)

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

 College qualification

49,207 (65.2)

47,088 (65.7)

2119 (55.5)

47,521 (65.5)

1686 (58.0)

 Other qualification

22,313 (29.6)

20,881 (29.1)

1432 (37.5)

21,286 (29.3)

1027 (35.3)

 None qualification

3946 (5.2)

3680 (5.1)

266 (7.0)

3750 (5.2)

196 (6.7)

Smoking status, n (%)

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

 Never

44,058 (58.4)

42,074 (58.7)

1984 (52.0)

42,506 (58.6)

1552 (53.4)

 Previous

26,536 (35.2)

25,156 (35.1)

1380 (36.2)

25,467 (35.1)

1069 (36.7)

 Current

4872 (6.5)

4419 (6.2)

453 (11.9)

4584 (6.3)

288 (9.9)

Physical activity (IPAQ), n (%)

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

 Low

12,072 (16.0)

11,238 (15.7)

834 (21.8)

11,546 (15.9)

526 (18.1)

 Moderate

28,478 (37.7)

27,128 (37.9)

1350 (35.4)

27,481 (37.9)

997 (34.3)

 High

24,793 (32.9)

23,695 (33.1)

1098 (28.8)

23,836 (32.9)

957 (32.9)

 Missing data

10,123 (13.4)

9588 (13.4)

535 (14.0)

9694 (13.4)

429 (14.7)

Ethnicity, n (%)

0.002

 < 0.001

 White

73,403 (97.3)

69,721 (97.3)

3682 (96.5)

70,611 (97.3)

2792 (96.0)

 Others

2063 (2.7)

1928 (2.7)

135 (3.5)

1946 (2.7)

117 (4.0)

Hypertension, n (%)

37,230 (49.3)

35,413 (49.4)

1817 (47.6)

0.028

35,883 (49.5)

1347 (46.3)

 < 0.001

Cardiovascular disease, n (%)

3228 (4.3)

2990 (4.2)

238 (6.2)

 < 0.001

3063 (4.2)

165 (5.7)

 < 0.001

Diabetes, n (%)

2458 (3.3)

2241 (3.1)

217 (5.7)

 < 0.001

2336 (3.2)

122 (4.2)

0.004

Nutrients intake

 Energy intake (MJ/day) ^a

8637.1 (2041.7)

8638.9 (2026.6)

8603.0 (2308.1)

0.014

8637.8 (2033.3)

8619.1 (2241.5)

0.2

 Energy density (kJ/g) ^a

6.5 (1.4)

6.4 (1.4)

6.7 (1.7)

 < 0.001

6.5 (1.4)

6.6 (1.7)

 < 0.001

 Saturated fatty acids (%E) ^a

7.8 (1.9)

7.8 (1.9)

7.9 (2.0)

0.004

7.8 (1.9)

7.8 (2.0)

0.5

 Free sugars (%E) ^a

11.6 (4.9)

11.5 (4.8)

12.3 (5.9)

 < 0.001

11.5 (4.8)

12.2 (5.7)

 < 0.001

 Fiber (g/day) ^a

1.7 (0.5)

1.7 (0.5)

1.6 (0.5)

 < 0.001

1.7 (0.5)

1.7 (0.5)

0.002

 Fiber Density (g/MJ) ^a

2.1 (0.6)

2.1 (0.6)

2.1 (0.7)

 < 0.001

2.1 (0.6)

2.1 (0.6)

0.002

Main food groups (g/day)

 Chocolate and confectionery^a

11.6 (18.7)

11.4 (18.3)

15.8 (25.0)

 < 0.001

11.5 (18.4)

15.4 (24.3)

 < 0.001

 Butter and other normal animal-fat spreads^a

5.2 (8.2)

5.2 (8.2)

5.1 (8.2)

0.5

5.2 (8.2)

5.0 (8.1)

0.13

 High-fat cheese^a

15.0 (16.2)

15.0 (16.1)

14.5 (17.4)

 < 0.001

15.0 (16.1)

14.9 (17.9)

0.016

 Added sugars and preserves^a

8.4 (12.0)

8.4 (11.9)

8.7 (13.8)

0.001

8.4 (12.0)

8.9 (13.8)

0.2

 SSBs and other sugary drinks^a

84.6 (147.9)

83.0 (145.0)

113.9 (192.6)

 < 0.001

83.7 (146.5)

107.7 (179.0)

 < 0.001

 Milk-based desserts^a

24.3 (37.7)

24.2 (37.6)

25.7 (40.9)

0.8

24.3 (37.7)

25.3 (39.6)

0.5

 Fresh fruit^a

195.1 (142.9)

195.7 (142.1)

184.4 (156.3)

 < 0.001

195.4 (142.4)

187.9 (154.3)

 < 0.001

 Vegetables^a

188.3 (130.6)

188.7 (130.0)

180.3 (142.2)

 < 0.001

188.2 (129.8)

190.2 (150.2)

0.034

Time span (years)^a

7.4 (0.8)

7.4 (0.8)

7.4 (0.8)

0.094

7.4 (0.8)

7.4 (0.8)

0.003

Baseline depression, n (%)

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

 No depression

70,271 (93.1)

67,525 (94.2)

2746 (71.9)

68,061 (93.8)

2210 (76.0)

 Depression

5195 (6.9)

4124 (5.8)

1071 (28.1)

4496 (6.2)

699 (24.0)

Baseline anxiety, n (%)

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

 No anxiety

70,070 (92.8)

67,237 (93.8)

2833 (74.2)

67,868 (93.5)

2202 (75.7)

 Anxiety

5396 (7.2)

4412 (6.2)

984 (25.8)

4689 (6.5)

707 (24.3)