2.5. Statistical analysis
The final analysis was performed on 420 individuals. Energy adjustment
of the variables was carried out using the residual method. After
completing the FFQ, the data were entered into an Excel datasheet and
daily dietary intakes were compared using the IBM SPSS version 26 (IBM
SPSS Statistics for Win, Armonk, NY) and Nutritionist IV (N4) software.
Since there were three DIP groups (tertiles), one-way ANOVA was used for
continuous variables including age, body mass index (BMI), weight, waist
circumference, physical activity, and systolic and diastolic blood
pressure, and Pearson’s chi-square test was applied to categorical
variables such as oral contraceptive (OCP) use, current corticosteroid
use, menopause, marital status, overweight/obesity and socioeconomic
status. Similarities between the energy intakes of the participants were
adjusted by linear regression. Finally, the associations between DIP and
E-selectin, ICAM, and VCAM in three tertiles was analyzed using ANCOVA.