Table 3 Dietary and nutrient intakes of study participants across quartiles (Q) of the dietary quality index-international (DQI-I)

Food groups (g/d)

Fruits

244.60 ± 132.33

292.79 ± 114.48

354.78 ± 183.95

464.20 ± 184.15

< 0.001

Vegetables

226.97 ± 114.71

264.14 ± 134.92

293.49 ± 143.25

368.01 ± 122.71

< 0.001

White meat

36.10 ± 25.74

44.11 ± 40.55

38.56 ± 34.04

49.87 ± 31.76

0.21

Red meat

31.65 ± 40.98

41.45 ± 46.14

34.69 ± 42.93

40.19 ± 54.35

0.71

Fish

4.36 ± 7.24

8.75 ± 14.03

9.48 ± 21.86

9.33 ± 10.96

0.28

Dairy products

261.95 ± 203.00

378.40 ± 276.42

300.58 ± 138.14

353.35 ± 167.19

0.03

Legumes

17.50 ± 10.94

24.40 ± 13.22

27.99 ± 14.48

27.46 ± 15.54

0.01

Nuts

10.77 ± 12.24

18.17 ± 26.60

18.79 ± 19.97

23.47 ± 34.76

0.11

Whole grain

62.41 ± 50.40

84.79 ± 62.79

85.20 ± 64.27

88.15 ± 62.70

0.15

Refined grain

293.25 ± 98.34

354.56 ± 123.69

417.77 ± 122.29

435.28 ± 126.73

< 0.001

Salt

8.04 ± 2.72

8.51 ± 2.89

7.97 ± 3.22

7.61 ± 2.72

0.53

SSB

70.55 ± 47.00

84.83 ± 79.83

87.51 ± 62.12

75.46 ± 65.50

0.57

Nutrients

Energy (kcal/d)

2259.00 ± 514.16

2771.00 ± 536.87

2793.15 ± 561.85

2937.22 ± 670.62

< 0.001

Protein (g/d)

74.09 ± 22.45

96.03 ± 26.00

94.85 ± 28.73

104.34 ± 27.05

< 0.001

Fat (g/d)

96.84 ± 27.83

111.48 ± 33.39

102.01 ± 27.37

99.63 ± 30.44

0.10

Carbohydrate (g/d)

281.71 ± 63.82

356.70 ± 63.29

387.52 ± 66.38

421.51 ± 90.03

< 0.001

SFA (g/d)

27.68 ± 10.50

33.47 ± 11.72

28.80 ± 8.80

28.24 ± 9.60

0.02

PUFA (g/d)

23.01 ± 7.74

25.24 ± 8.04

24.68 ± 7.55

23.50 ± 8.46

0.51

MUFA (g/d)

34.15 ± 10.55

37.46 ± 12.08

34.04 ± 9.84

33.14 ± 9.29

0.22

Ca (g/d)

885.14 ± 303.74

1247.58 ± 378.26

1150.09 ± 233.69

1316.18 ± 345.99

< 0.001

Na (mg/d)

5553.53 ± 1451.45

6306.86 ± 1732.43

6308.87 ± 1666.59

6522.31 ± 1716.81

0.03

Dietary fiber (g/d)

39.64 ± 18.74

55.50 ± 21.20

60.70 ± 24.02

74.54 ± 25.52

< 0.001