Table 1

Characteristics of study participants


Total (n = 293)

Age when magnetic resonance imaging performed (years)
58.0 (5.5)
Female (n (%))
184 (63%)
Variables in 1990–1994

     Body mass index (kg/m2)
25.2 (3.8)
     Vegetables (times/day) (median (interquartile range))
5.0 (4.0–7.0)
     Fruits (times/day) (median (interquartile range))
4.0 (2.0–5.0)
     Energy from dietary intake (kJ/day)
9,364.9 (3,067.5)
     Vitamin C (mg/day)
218.3 (107.3)
     Vitamin E (mg/day)
8.3 (3.4)
     Carotenoids

          α-Carotene (μg/day)
1,387.0 (697.3)
          β-Carotene (μg/day)
5,821.1 (2,507.0)
          β-Cryptoxanthin (μg/day)
421.3 (348.1)
          Lutein and zeaxanthin (μg/day)
1,822.5 (908.9)
          Lycopene (μg/day)
7,782.6 (5,067.5)
Variables in 2003–2004

     Tibial cartilage volume (mm3)
3,731 (1,118)
     Presence of any tibiofemoral cartilage defects (n (%))
181 (62%)
     Tibial plateau bone area (mm2)
3,302 (475)
     Presence of any tibiofemoral bone marrow lesions (n (%))
39 (13%)

Data presented as the mean (standard deviation), unless stated otherwise.

Wang et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007 9:R66   doi:10.1186/ar2225