title: Plant sterol intake and education level in the Spanish EPIC cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Spanish European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort to investigate the association among education level, as a measurement of socioeconomic position, gender, and dietary nutrient intake, focusing on plant sterols, in a Mediterranean population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 25 615 women and 15 552 men (29-69 y old) from the Spanish EPIC cohort was recruited in 1992-1996. Nutrient and plant sterol intakes were estimated using a validated dietary history questionnaire and Spanish food composition tables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few differences in nutrient or plant sterol consumption existed between men and women with different education levels. Age and energy-adjusted linear regression models of plant sterol intake showed a small increase in subjects with lower education and higher consumption in men than in women. Homogeneity of healthy dietary habits across different socioeconomic groups in this population reflects a wide availability of characteristic Mediterranean foods at the time of recruitment. However, current changes in food supply and the increasing cost of healthy foods may lead to socioeconomic inequalities in Spain parallel to those taking place in other European populations.
authors.affiliation: Lipid Clinic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clínic, CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain. vescurri@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Escurriol
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marí-Dell'Olmo
authors.forename: Izabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rohlfs
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borrell
authors.forename: Maria Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Chirlaque
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buckland
authors.forename: Laudina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amiano
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Egüés
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004522:Educational Status; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D010840:Phytosterols