Table 2 Subject characteristics segmented by Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS)

BSDS scores

12.9 ± 4.1

0–8

9–11

12–13

14–16

17–24

Observations, n

969

131

240

170

226

202

Age, years

54 ± 7.4

52 ± 8.5

52 ± 8.4

54 ± 7.2

55 ± 6.2

56 ± 6.0

Sex (% female)

46

49

44

48

43

49

School education (%)

 Base level

66

74

68

60

67

62

 High school

15

17

21

14

12

12

 University

19

9

12

26

21

27

BMI, kg/m²

26.0 ± 3.7

25.6 ± 3.9

26.0 ± 4.0

25.9 ± 3.6

26.2 ± 3.3

26.4 ± 4.0

Physical activity (%)

 Low

77

88

82

79

75

63

 Medium

20

11

16

17

22

31

 High

4

2

3

5

4

6

Smoking (%)

18

14

17

19

23

16

Metabolites (µmol/L)

 Choline

8.9 ± 1.6

8.6 ± 1.6

8.9 ± 1.7

8.8 ± 1.5

8.9 ± 1.6

9.2 ± 1.7

 Betaine

31.0 ± 7.2

29.6 ± 6.4

31.3 ± 7.2

30.2 ± 7.0

31.1 ± 7.5

33.1 ± 14.9

 tHcy

10.5 ± 4.7

10.6 ± 3.3

11.3 ± 6.0

10.3 ± 4.2

10.7 ± 5.7

9.6 ± 2.3

 DMG

3.8 ± 1.8

3.8 ± 2.0

3.9 ± 1.8

3.8 ± 2.2

3.7 ± 1.5

3.8 ± 1.5

 Sarcosine

1.9 ± 1.1

1.8 ± 1.0

1.9 ± 1.1

1.9 ± 1.2

1.9 ± 1.2

1.9 ± 1.1

 Glycine

244 ± 73

235 ± 60

241 ± 69

253 ± 76

243 ± 77

247 ± 77

 Serine

110 ± 19

108 ± 17

111 ± 20

111 ± 19

110 ± 19

111 ± 20