scholarly journals European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) calibration study: rationale, design and population characteristics

2002 ◽  
Vol 5 (6b) ◽  
pp. 1125-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Slimani ◽  
R Kaaks ◽  
P Ferrari ◽  
C Casagrande ◽  
F Clavel-Chapelon ◽  
...  

AbstractThe European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), which covers a large cohort of half a million men and women from 23 European centres in 10 Western European countries, was designed to study the relationship between diet and the risk of chronic diseases, particularly cancer. Information on usual individual dietary intake was assessed using different validated dietary assessment methods across participating countries. In order to adjust for possible systematic over- or underestimation in dietary intake measurements and correct for attenuation bias in relative risk estimates, a calibration approach was developed. This approach involved an additional dietary assessment common across study populations to re-express individual dietary intakes according to the same reference scale. A single 24-hour diet recall was therefore collected, as the EPIC reference calibration method, from a stratified random sample of 36 900 subjects from the entire EPIC cohort, using a software program (EPIC-SOFT) specifically designed to standardise the dietary measurements across study populations. This paper describes the design and populations of the calibration sub-studies set up in the EPIC centres. In addition, to assess whether the calibration sub-samples were representative of the entire group of EPIC cohorts, a series of subjects’ characteristics known possibly to influence dietary intakes was compared in both population groups. This was the first time that calibration sub-studies had been set up in a large multi-centre European study. These studies showed that, despite certain inherent methodological and logistic constraints, a study design such as this one works relatively well in practice. The average response in the calibration study was 78.3% and ranged from 46.5% to 92.5%. The calibration population differed slightly from the overall cohort but the differences were small for most characteristics and centres. The overall results suggest that, after adjustment for age, dietary intakes estimated from calibration samples can reasonably be interpreted as representative of the main cohorts in most of the EPIC centres.

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Nur Hana Hamzaid ◽  
Helen T. O’Connor ◽  
Victoria M. Flood

Background: There is limited information on the dietary intakes of people with intellectual disability (ID) living in group homes. Objective: To describe and evaluate dietary intake in people with ID. Method: Dietary intake was assessed in a convenience sample of people with ID living in group homes. Dietary assessment used three-day weighed food records and digital food photography. Intakes were compared to the Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) and dietary recommendations. Results: A sample of 33 adults, (men (M): n = 14; women (W): n = 19), mean age 51 ± 14 years, was recruited from seven group homes. Mean daily energy intake was low (M: 7.4 MJ; W: 7.0 MJ; p = 0.46), similar to levels recommended for bed rest. Many participants had intakes below the estimated average requirements (EARs) for the nutrients, magnesium (M: 86%; W: 63%), calcium (M: 43%; W: 78%), iodine (M: 43%; W: 47%) and zinc (M: 43%). Less than half of the recommended daily servings were consumed for vegetables (men and women) and dairy foods (women). Conclusion: Nutrient intake and diet quality of the participants in the group homes studied was poor. Education and policy to support healthier diets is required to improve dietary intake of people with intellectual disability, living in group homes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Lovell ◽  
Rhodi Bulloch ◽  
Clare R. Wall ◽  
Cameron C. Grant

AbstractA child's diet is an important determinant of growth and development. Because of this, the accurate assessment of dietary intake in young children remains a challenge. A systematic search of studies validating FFQ methodologies in children 12 to 36 months of age was completed. English-language articles published until March 2016 were searched using three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL). Quality assessment of the identified studies was carried out using The Reduced Summary Score and EURopean micronutrient RECommendations Aligned (EURRECA) scoring system. Seventeen studies were included and categorised according to whether they reflected long-term (≥7 d) or short-term (<7 d) intake, or used a biomarker. A total score for each micronutrient was calculated from the mean of the correlation coefficients weighted by the study quality score. At least three validation studies per micronutrient were required for inclusion. Fifteen studies (83 %) that considered validity of the FFQ in assessing nutrient intakes had quality scores from 2·5 to 6·0. Of those, ten (67 %) studies found FFQ to have good correlations in assessing dietary intake (>0·4). Of the nutrients with three or more studies available, FFQ validated using a reference method reflecting short-term intake had a good weighted correlation for Ca (0·51), and acceptable weighted correlations for vitamin C (0·31) and Fe (0·33). Semi-quantitative FFQ were shown to be valid and reproducible when estimating dietary intakes at a group level, and are an acceptable instruments for estimating intakes of Ca, vitamin C and Fe in children 12 to 36 months of age.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S624-S625
Author(s):  
V Peters ◽  
B Alizadeh ◽  
J de Vries ◽  
G Dijkstra ◽  
M Campmans-Kuijpers

Abstract Background Diet plays a key role in the complex aetiology and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Most existing nutritional assessment tools neglect intakes of important foods consumed or omitted specifically by IBD patients or incorporate non-Western dietary habits, making development of appropriate dietary guidelines for (Western) IBD patients difficult. Hence, we developed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the Groningen IBD Nutritional Questionnaires (GINQ-FFQ); suitable to assess dietary intake in IBD patients. Methods To develop the GINQ-FFQ multiple steps (Figure 1) were taken; identification of IBD specific foods, literature search and evaluation of current dietary assessment methods. Expert views were collected and in collaboration with Wageningen University, division of Human Nutrition and Health, this semi-quantitative FFQ was developed using standard methods to obtain a validate questionnaire. Next, the GINQ-FFQ was digitalised into a secure web-based environment which also embeds additional nutritional and IBD-related questions. Results The GINQ-FFQ is an online self-administered FFQ evaluating dietary intake over the past month as a proxy of habitual intake of the previous six months. The GINQ-FFQ consists of 121 questions on 218 food items. It takes about 45 min to fill out the GINQ-FFQ. Conclusion This paper describes the design process of the GINQ-FFQ which is newly developed to assess dietary intakes especially (but not exclusively) in IBD patients.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Eldridge ◽  
Carmen Piernas ◽  
Anne-Kathrin Illner ◽  
Michael Gibney ◽  
Mirjana Gurinović ◽  
...  

Background: New technology-based dietary assessment tools, including Web-based programs, mobile applications, and wearable devices, may improve accuracy and reduce costs of dietary data collection and processing. The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Europe Dietary Intake and Exposure Task Force launched this project to evaluate new tools in order to recommend general quality standards for future applications. Methods: A comprehensive literature search identified technology-based dietary assessment tools, including those published in English from 01/2011 to 09/2017, and providing details on tool features, functions and uses. Each of the 43 tools identified (33 for research and 10 designed for consumer use) was rated on 25 attributes. Results: Most of the tools identified (79%) relied on self-reported dietary intakes. Most (91%) used text entry and 33% used digital images to help identify foods. Only 65% had integrated databases for estimating energy or nutrients. Fewer than 50% contained any features of customization and about half generated automatic reports. Most tools reported on usability or reported validity compared with another assessment method (77%). A set of Best Practice Guidelines was developed for reporting dietary assessment tools using new technology. Conclusions: Dietary assessment methods that utilize technology offer many advantages for research and are often preferable to consumers over more traditional methods. In order to meet general quality standards, new technology tools require detailed publications describing tool development, food identification and quantification, customization, outputs, food composition tables used, and usability/validity testing.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Collins ◽  
Bradley Baker ◽  
Daisy H. Coyle ◽  
Megan E. Rollo ◽  
Tracy L. Burrows

Optimal dietary intake is important for the health and physical performance of military personnel. For military veterans, the complex nature of transition into civilian life and sub-optimal dietary intake is a leading contributor to the increased burden of disease. A scoping review was undertaken to determine what is known about the assessment and reporting of dietary intakes within both military and veteran populations. In addition, this review determines if studies reporting on the dietary intake of military personnel or veterans include comparisons with dietary guidelines. Six databases were searched to identify papers published from the database inception to April 2019. Observational and intervention studies were searched to identify if they assessed and reported whole dietary intake data, reported data exclusively for a military or veteran population, and included only healthy populations. A total of 89 studies were included. The majority of studies used one dietary assessment method (n = 76, 85%) with fewer using multiple methods (n = 13, 15%). The most frequent methodology used was food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) (n = 40, 45%) followed by 24-hour recalls (n = 8, 9%) and food records (n = 8, 9%). The main dietary outcomes reported were macronutrients: carbohydrate, protein, fat, and alcohol (n = 66, 74%) with total energy intake reported in n = 59 (66%). Fifty four (61%) studies reported a comparison with country-specific dietary guidelines and 14 (16%) reported a comparison with the country-specific military guidelines. In conclusion, dietary intake in military settings is most commonly assessed via FFQs and 24-hour recalls. Dietary intake reporting is mainly focused around intakes of energy and macronutrients. Most studies compare against dietary guidelines, however, comparison to specific military dietary guidelines is minimal.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2906
Author(s):  
Heleen Van Puyvelde ◽  
Aurora Perez-Cornago ◽  
Corinne Casagrande ◽  
Geneviève Nicolas ◽  
Vickà Versele ◽  
...  

This study aimed to compare calculated nutrient intakes from two different food composition databases using data from the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Dietary intake data of the EPIC cohort was recently matched to 150 food components from the U.S. nutrient database (USNDB). Twenty-eight of these nutrients were already included in the EPIC nutrient database (ENDB—based upon country specific food composition tables), and used for comparison. Paired sample t-tests, Pearson’s correlations (r), weighted kappa’s (κ) and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare the dietary intake of 28 nutrients estimated by the USNDB and the ENDB for 476,768 participants. Small but significant differences were shown between the USNDB and the ENDB for energy and macronutrient intakes. Moderate to very strong correlations (r = 0.60–1.00) were found for all macro- and micronutrients. A strong agreement (κ > 0.80) was found for energy, water, total fat, carbohydrates, sugar, alcohol, potassium and vitamin C, whereas a weak agreement (κ < 0.60) was found for starch, vitamin D and vitamin E. Dietary intakes estimated via the USNDB compare adequately with those obtained via the ENDB for most macro- and micronutrients, although the agreement was weak for starch, vitamin D and vitamin E. The USNDB will allow exposure assessments for 150 nutrients to investigate associations with disease outcomes within the EPIC cohort.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Carter ◽  
Sarah Lewington ◽  
Carmen Piernas ◽  
Kathryn Bradbury ◽  
Timothy J. Key ◽  
...  

Abstract To detect modest associations of dietary intake with disease risk, observational studies need to be large and control for moderate measurement errors. The reproducibility of dietary intakes of macronutrients, food groups and dietary patterns (vegetarian and Mediterranean) was assessed in adults in the UK Biobank study on up to five occasions using a web-based 24-h dietary assessment (n 211 050), and using short FFQ recorded at baseline (n 502 655) and after 4 years (n 20 346). When the means of two 24-h assessments were used, the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for macronutrients varied from 0·63 for alcohol to 0·36 for polyunsaturated fat. The ICC for food groups also varied from 0·68 for fruit to 0·18 for fish. The ICC for the FFQ varied from 0·66 for meat and fruit to 0·48 for bread and cereals. The reproducibility was higher for vegetarian status (κ > 0·80) than for the Mediterranean dietary pattern (ICC = 0·45). Overall, the reproducibility of pairs of 24-h dietary assessments and single FFQ used in the UK Biobank were comparable with results of previous prospective studies using conventional methods. Analyses of diet–disease relationships need to correct for both measurement error and within-person variability in dietary intake in order to reliably assess any such associations with disease in the UK Biobank.


2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pai K. Verkasalo ◽  
Paul N. Appleby ◽  
Naomi E. Allen ◽  
Gwyneth Davey ◽  
Herman Adlercreutz ◽  
...  

Soya products contain high levels of the isoflavones genistein and daidzein, and their glucosides, and may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and cancer. The present cross-sectional study investigated plasma concentrations of daidzein and genistein and their correlations with dietary soya consumption in four groups of twenty premenopausal British women. The women were selected from the Oxford arm of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition using data from food-frequency questionnaires (FFQ) to guarantee a wide variation in soya consumption, and to investigate the utility of the question related to soya milk consumption compared with the utility of the question related to other soya foods. Dietary intakes of isoflavones were additionally assessed by 7 d food diaries. Plasma concentrations of daidzein and genistein were measured by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. Geometric mean plasma concentrations (nmol/l) were for the four groups, which were based on increasing soya intake, 4·9, 8·4, 39·2 and 132 for daidzein and 14·3, 16·5, 119 and 378 for genistein. The Spearman correlation coefficients for plasma isoflavone concentrations with estimated dietary intakes were between 0·66 and 0·80 for the diary-based estimates and between 0·24 and 0·74 for the FFQ-based estimates. The correlations for soya milk intakes were clearly higher than the correlations for intakes of other soya foods. We conclude that both the food diary and the FFQ estimate dietary soya isoflavone intakes sufficiently well to use them in epidemiological studies, and that plasma concentrations of daidzein and genistein in Western women who consumed soya products as a part of their regular diet were close to those in Asian populations.


2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Forster ◽  
Marianne C. Walsh ◽  
Michael J. Gibney ◽  
Lorraine Brennan ◽  
Eileen R. Gibney

Food records or diaries, dietary recalls and FFQ are methods traditionally used to measure dietary intake; however, advancing technologies and growing awareness in personalised health have heightened interest in the application of new technologies to assess dietary intake. Dietary intake data can be used in epidemiology, dietary interventions and in the delivery of personalised nutrition advice. Compared with traditional dietary assessment methods, new technologies have many advantages, including their ability to automatically process data and provide personalised dietary feedback advice. This review examines the new technologies presently under development for the assessment of dietary intakes, and their utilisation and efficacy for personalising dietary advice. New technology-based methods of dietary assessment can broadly be categorised into three key areas: online (web-based) methods, mobile methods and sensor technologies. Several studies have demonstrated that utilising new technologies to provide tailored advice can result in positive dietary changes and have a significant impact on selected nutrient and food group intakes. However, comparison across studies indicates that the magnitude of change is variable and may be influenced by several factors, including the frequency and type of feedback provided. Future work should establish the most effective combinations of these factors in facilitating dietary changes across different population groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-51
Author(s):  
Chuenjai Sratongfaeng ◽  
Nithipun Suksumek ◽  
Nithikoon Aksorn ◽  
Pithi Chanvorachote ◽  
Kulwara Meksawan

Astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant compound, is well recognized for its beneficial effects to protect from oxidative stress and free radicals. However, the effects of long period of use of astaxanthin on biological parameters, health indicators, and energy intake are still largely unknown. A total of 33 healthy participants aged 21–54 years with body mass index in the range of 18.50−24.90 kg/m2 were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial and were assigned into astaxanthin and placebo groups. The participants in the astaxanthin group received 4 mg of astaxanthin once daily for 12 consecutive weeks. Dietary intakes, as well as blood levels of astaxanthin and biological parameters, were investigated at baseline and week 12. The significant elevation of blood astaxanthin level in the astaxanthin group was notified at week 12. Regarding basic characteristics of blood biochemical parameters, results indicated that the fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not significantly different between astaxanthin and placebo groups at week 12. Interestingly, the significant decrease in total energy and carbohydrate intakes of the participants in the astaxanthin group (P < 0.05) was found after 12-week supplementation, compared to the baseline. The findings support the safety of long-term supplementation and reveal potential dietary intake lowering effect of astaxanthin in healthy individuals.


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