Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the medical students (n = 394)

Age, y, mean (SD)

23.6 (4.3)

23.6 (3.4)

0.39^a

BMI, kg/m², mean (SD)

22.1 (3.1)

23.3 (3.5)

< 0.001^a

Regular exercise, n (%)

285 (91%)

74 (91%)

0.93^c

 Hours per week, mean (SD)

4.0 (3.0)

4.0 (4.0)

0.07^a

Regular use of tobacco, n (%)

 Cigarettes

2 (1%)

2 (3%)

0.14^b

 Snuff

31 (10%)

11 (14%)

0.56^b

Regular use of alcohol, n (%)

256 (82%)

68 (84%)

0.65^b

 Units per week, mean (SD)

2.0 (3.5)

2.5 (3.8)

0.10^a

Current diet, n (%)

 Omnivore

275 (88%)

79 (98%)

0.01^b

 Vegetarian

30 (12%)

2 (3%)

0.01^b

 Vegan

8 (3%)

0 (0%)

0.15^b

Regular use of supplements,

(≥ 3 days/week), n (%)

 Multivitamins/minerals

99 (31%)

10 (12%)

0.001^b

 Iron

48 (15%)

2 (3%)

0.002^b

 Fish oil

70 (22%)

22 (27%)

0.36^b

 Omega 3 fatty acids

79 (25%)

16 (20%)

0.30^b