Table 1 Baseline characteristics of participants with Bacterial vaginosis

N

1252

877

375

Age (years), mean ± SD

33.91 ± 8.53

33.86 ± 8.44

34.03 ± 8.76

0.751

PIR Median (Min-Max)

2.67 (0.00–5.00)

3.09 (0.00–5.00)

1.86 (0.00–5.00)

< 0.001

Serum carotenoids (μ g /ml), Median (Min-Max)

63.50 (3.14–262.46)

66.10 (3.14–262.46)

57.80 (13.60–219.40)

< 0.001

α-Carotene (μ g /ml), Median (Min-Max)

2.60 (0.21–64.40)

3.00 (0.21–64.40)

1.91 (0.21–49.11)

< 0.001

β-Carotene (μ g /ml), Median (Min-Max)

12.69 (0.79–146.30)

13.74 (0.79–146.30)

10.49 (0.86–97.80)

< 0.001

β-cryptoxanthin (μ g /ml), Median (Min-Max)

7.50 (0.14–65.96)

8.00 (0.14–65.96)

6.30 (1.01–54.59)

0.002

Lycopene (μ g /ml), Median (Min-Max)

21.91 (0.68–79.80)

22.10 (0.68–68.70)

21.50 (3.62–79.80)

0.116

Lutein + zeaxanthin (μ g /ml), Median (Min-Max)

13.59 (0.97–67.40)

14.00 (0.97–67.40)

12.70 (3.50–45.16)

< 0.001

C-reactive protein (mg/dL), Median (Min-Max)

0.24 (0.01–16.30)

0.23 (0.01–16.30)

0.27 (0.01–4.94)

0.141

Vitamin A (μ g /ml), Median (Min-Max)

51.26 (11.94–148.52)

51.90 (11.94–129.50)

49.44 (23.65–148.52)

0.055

Vitamin E (μ g /ml), Median (Min-Max)

209.00 (20.00–1494.00)

199.00 (20.00–1383.00)

234.00 (28.00–1494.00)

< 0.001

Calcium (mg/dl), Median (Min-Max)

9.35 (8.10–10.60)

9.30 (8.30–10.60)

9.40 (8.10–10.60)

0.926

Race/ethnicity(%)

< 0.001

 Mexican American

251 (20.05%)

175 (19.95%)

76 (20.27%)

 Hispanic

47 (3.75%)

36 (4.10%)

11 (2.93%)

 Non-Hispanic White

678 (54.15%)

529 (60.32%)

149 (39.73%)

 Non-Hispanic Black

227 (18.13%)

105 (11.97%)

122 (32.53%)

 Other Race

49 (3.91%)

32 (3.65%)

17 (4.53%)

Education(%)

< 0.001

 Under high school

225 (17.97%)

127 (14.48%)

98 (26.13%)

 High school

265 (21.17%)

173 (19.73%)

92 (24.53%)

 More than high school

762 (60.86%)

577 (65.79%)

185 (49.33%)

BMI (%)

< 0.001

 Underweight

34 (2.72%)

29 (3.31%)

5 (1.33%)

 Healthy weight

471 (37.62%)

354 (40.36%)

117 (31.20%)

 Overweight

349 (27.88%)

246 (28.05%)

103 (27.47%)

 Obesity

398 (31.79%)

248 (28.28%)

150 (40.00%)

Marital status (%)

< 0.001

 Marriage

668 (53.35%)

511 (58.27%)

157 (41.87%)

 Widowhood

12 (0.96%)

6 (0.68%)

6 (1.60%)

 Divorce

98 (7.83%)

57 (6.50%)

41 (10.93%)

 Separation

52 (4.15%)

29 (3.31%)

23 (6.13%)

 Never getting married

293 (23.40%)

189 (21.55%)

104 (27.73%)

 Cohabitation

129 (10.30%)

85 (9.69%)

44 (11.73%)

Moderate activity (%)

0.012

 Yes

745 (59.50%)

543 (61.92%)

202 (53.87%)

 No

499 (39.86%)

327 (37.29%)

172 (45.87%)

 Unable to do activity

8 (0.64%)

7 (0.80%)

1 (0.27%)

Vigorous activity (%)

< 0.001

 Yes

464 (37.06%)

358 (40.82%)

106 (28.27%)

 No

773 (61.74%)

507 (57.81%)

266 (70.93%)

 Unable to do activity

15 (1.20%)

12 (1.37%)

3 (0.80%)

High cholesterol level (%)

0.146

 Yes

167 (13.34%)

125 (14.25%)

42 (11.20%)

 No

1085 (86.66%)

752 (85.75%)

333 (88.80%)

Sexual intercourse

0.226

 Yes

1226 (97.92%)

856 (97.61%)

370 (98.67%)

 No

26 (2.08%)

21 (2.39%)

5 (1.33%)

Birth control pills (%)

0.007

 Yes

1018 (81.31%)

730 (83.24%)

288 (76.80%)

 No

234 (18.69%)

147 (16.76%)

87 (23.20%)

Smoking status(%)

< 0.001

 Smokers

579 (46.25%)

375 (42.76%)

204 (54.40%)

 Non-smokers

673 (53.75%)

502 (57.24%)

171 (45.60%)

Alcohol consumption (%)

< 0.001

 Nondrinker

449 (35.86%)

346 (39.45%)

103 (27.47%)

 Moderate alcohol use

401 (32.03%)

285 (32.50%)

116 (30.93%)

 Alcoholism

402 (32.11%)

246 (28.05%)

156 (41.60%)