Table 1 Characteristics of participants according to presence or absence of BMLs at baseline

Age (year)

63.2 (7.3)

63.2 (7.2)

0.99

Female sex (%)

56

44

0.02

BMI (kg/m²)

27.1 (4.0)

28.3 (5.0)

0.01

Current smokers (%)

13

8

0.13

Cardiovascular disease (%)

4

9

0.07

Diabetes (%)

8

6

0.36

Statin use (%)

17

20

0.45

ROA present (%)

57

59

0.70

Dietary factors

   Energy Intake (kJ/day)

7,512 (2,378)

7,800 (2,941)

0.30

   Total fat (g/day)

71.5 (25.9)

74.2 (34.5)

0.40

Monounsaturated fat (g/day)

24.9 (9.8)

25.7 (12.8)

0.50

Polyunsaturated fat (g/day)

11.8 (5.0)

11.6 (6.1)

0.67

Saturated fat (g/day)

28.6 (12.3)

30.4 (15.2)

0.19

   Total carbohydrates (g/day)

205.1 (67.8)

214.3 (76.1)

0.21

   Total protein (g/day)

84.7 (31.4)

87.2 (43.1)

0.52

   Total sugar (g/day)

95.6 (36.3)

100.5 (42.0)

0.22

Lipids

   Total cholesterol (mmol/L)

5.7 (1.1)

5.4 (1.1)

0.01

   Triglycerides (mmol/L)

1.5 (0.9)

1.5 (0.8)

0.99

   LDL cholesterol (mmol/L)

3.6 (0.9)

3.5 (1.0)

0.10

   HDL cholesterol (mmol/L)

1.4 (0.4)

1.3 (0.3)

0.01