scholarly journals Development and simulated validation of a food-frequency questionnaire for the Colombian population

2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonelo E Bautista ◽  
Oscar F Herrán ◽  
Jane A Pryer

AbstractObjectiveTo develop a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) useful for ranking of nutrient intakes.DesignSubjects consuming their regular diet completed 7 days of weighed intake registry (7-WIR). Foods for the FFQ were selected by stepwise multiple regression. The FFQ was then completed for each subject using data on individual food consumption from the 7-WIR. The correlation and agreement between the extrapolated FFQ and the 7-WIR data were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (rS) and Bland and Altman's limits of agreement (LOA).SettingBucaramanga, Colombia.SubjectsWe studied 97 randomly selected 20–40-year-old subjects.ResultsSixty foods were selected for the FFQ. The 7-WIR and the extrapolated FFQ intake estimates correlated well. rS was 0.58 for energy, 0.53 for carbohydrate, 0.50 for total fat, and 0.48 for protein. For micronutrients, rS varied from 0.46 (manganese) to 0.71 (vitamin B12). FFQ average intake estimates were 83%, 80%, 86.2% and 86.4% of 7-WIR estimates for energy, carbohydrate, total fat and protein, respectively. LOA for these nutrients ranged between 45% and 165%. FFQ micronutrient intakes were on average 96% (median) of those from the 7-WIR, and the median lower and upper LOA were 50% and 203%. However, there was no indication that the degree of agreement varied with the level of intake.ConclusionsAccording to our simulated validation, this FFQ may be useful to rank subjects by nutrient intake. Its validity against standard independent measurements and its applicability to other subsets of the Colombian population should be carefully considered.

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahomi Imaeda ◽  
Chiho Goto ◽  
Tae Sasakabe ◽  
Haruo Mikami ◽  
Isao Oze ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for food group intake in Japan, the reproducibility and partial validity of which were previously confirmed for nutrients. Methods A total of 288 middle-aged healthy volunteers from 11 different areas of Japan provided nonconsecutive 3-day weighed dietary records (DRs) at 3-month intervals over four seasons. We evaluated reproducibility based on the first (FFQ1) and second (FFQ2) questionnaires and their validity against the DRs by comparing the intake of 20 food groups. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients (SRs) were calculated between energy-adjusted intake from the FFQs and that from the DRs. Results The intake of 20 food groups estimated from the two FFQs was mostly equivalent. The median energy-adjusted SRs between the FFQ1 and FFQ2 were 0.61 (range 0.38–0.86) for men and 0.66 (0.45–0.84) for women. For validity, the median de-attenuated SRs between DRs and the FFQ1 were 0.51 (0.17–0.76) for men and 0.47 (0.23–0.77) for women. Compared with the DRs, the proportion of cross-classification into exact plus adjacent quintiles with the FFQ1 ranged from 58 to 86% in men and from 57 to 86% in women. According to the robust Z scores and the Bland–Altman plot graphs, the underestimation errors in the FFQ1 tended to be greater in individuals with high mean levels of consumption for meat for men and for other vegetables for both men and women. Conclusion The FFQ demonstrated high reproducibility and reasonable validity for food group intake. This questionnaire is short and remains appropriate for identifying associations between diet and health/disease among adults in Japan.


2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 961-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi J Wengreen ◽  
Ronald G Munger ◽  
Siew Sun Wong ◽  
Nancy A West ◽  
Richard Cutler

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the 137-item Utah Picture-sort Food-frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) in the measurement of usual dietary intake in older adults.Design:The picture-sort FFQ was administered at baseline and again one year later. Three seasonal 24-hour dietary recall interviews were collected during the year between the two FFQs. Mean nutrient intakes were compared between methods and between administrations of the FFQ.Setting:The FFQ interviews were administered in respondents' homes or care-centres. The 24-hour diet recalls were conducted by telephone interview on random days of the week.Subjects:Two-hundred-and-eight men and women aged 55–84 years were recruited by random sample of controls from a case–control study of nutrition and bone health in Utah.Results:After adjustment for total energy intake, median Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the two picture-sort FFQs were 0.69 for men aged ≤69 years, 0.66 for men aged >69 years; and 0.68 for women aged ≤69 years, 0.67 for women aged >69 years. Median correlation coefficients between methods were 0.50 for men ≤69 years old, 0.52 for men >69 years old; 0.55 for women ≤69 years old, 0.46 for women >69 years old.Conclusions:We report intake correlations between methods and administrations comparable to those reported in the literature for traditional paper-and-pencil FFQs and one other picture-sort method of FFQ. This dietary assessment method may improve ease and accuracy of response in this and other populations with low literacy levels, poor memory skill, impaired hearing, or poor vision.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilili Feyesa Regassa ◽  
Bilal S Endris ◽  
Esete Habtemariam ◽  
Hamid Y Hassen ◽  
Seifu H Ghebreyesus

Abstract Background: To date, there is no culture-specific and validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) available in Ethiopia. We developed a FFQ and evaluated its validity as compared to estimates of a food group and nutrient intakes derived from two 24-Hour Dietary Recalls (24-HRs).Method: A total of 105 adults, of which 43 (41%) were men and 62 (59%) women aged 20-65 years participated in this study. To evaluate the validity of FFQ against two 24-HRs, we used a paired t-test and Wilcoxon- signed rank test to compare mean and median daily nutrient and food intakes obtained from the averages of the two 24-HRs and the FFQ, correlation coefficients to measure the strength and direction of the correlation, Cross-classification and kappa to assess classification agreement and Bland-Altman analysis for assessing limits of agreement between the two methods.Results: Mean energy and macronutrient intakes obtained from the FFQ were significantly higher than those obtained from the mean of two 24-HRs. For energy and macronutrients, the crude correlation between two instruments ranged from 0.05 (total fat) to 0.32 (carbohydrate). Whereas, for micronutrients, it ranged from 0.1 (calcium) to 0.49 (vitamin B1). The de-attenuated correlation ranged from to 0.10 (total fat) to 0.80 (vitamin A) Visual inspection of the Bland-Altman plots for both energy and macronutrients shows no consistent trend across the intake values. For the majority of the food groups, no significant difference was observed in median intake of foods and nutrients between 24-HRs and FFQ. Crude correlation for food groups ranged from 0.12 (egg) to 0.78 (legumes). The de-attenuated correlation ranged from 0.24 (egg) to 0.10 (Meat/Poultry/Fish). The FFQ showed a fair classification agreement with the 24-HRs for cereals, legumes, and roots and tubers intakes. A systematic trend of overestimation for roots and tubers and under estimation of beverage intakes at higher values was observed when we used FFQ.Conclusion: The FFQ is valid to assess and rank individuals in terms of intakes of most food groups according to high and low intake categories. Individual level validity was acceptable for energy and most nutrients as indicated by de-attenuated correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots. However, group level validity was poor for most nutrients.


2002 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 769-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine L Parr ◽  
Ingrid Barikmo ◽  
Liv E Torheim ◽  
Fatimata Ouattara ◽  
Assitan Kaloga ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:To assess the relative validity of the second version of a quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (QFFQ), designed to measure the habitual food and nutrient intake in one season in rural populations in Western Mali, West Africa.Design:The dietary intake during the previous week was assessed with the 164-item QFFQ administered by interview. This was compared with the intake from a 2-day weighed record (WR) with weighed recipes.Setting:The village of Ouassala in the Kayes region, Western Mali.Subjects:Thirty-four women and 36 men aged 15–45 years, from 29 households.Results:The QFFQ gave a lower intake of lunch and dinner and a higher intake of snacks than the WR. The discrepancies were larger for women than for men. The median proportion of subjects classified in the same quartile of intake was 29% for food groups and 36% for energy and nutrients. For classification into extreme opposite quartiles, the median proportion was 6% for food groups and 7% for energy and nutrients. Spearman's rank correlation for energy and nutrients ranged from 0.16 (% energy from protein) to 0.62 (retinol equivalents).Conclusions:The second version of the QFFQ tends to underestimate total food weight. The methods used for estimating food portion size should therefore be applied with caution. The changes made from the first version had little effect. The ability to rank subjects according to dietary intake is similar with both versions. The improved layout of the new QFFQ makes it a more user-friendly tool for comparing dietary intake between population groups and for measuring changes over time.


2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 751-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
LD Marriott ◽  
SM Robinson ◽  
J Poole ◽  
SE Borland ◽  
KM Godfrey ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the relative validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for assessing nutrient intakes in 6-month-old infants.Design and settingThe FFQ was developed to assess the diets of infants born to women in the Southampton Women’s Survey (SWS), a population-based survey of young women and their offspring. The energy and nutrient intakes obtained from an interviewer-administered FFQ were compared with those obtained from a 4-day weighed diary.Subjects and methodsA sub-sample of 50 infants aged 6 months from the SWS had their diets assessed by both methods. The FFQ recorded the frequencies and amounts of milks, baby foods, regular foods and drinks consumed by the infants over the previous seven days. The diaries recorded the weights of all foods and drinks consumed by the infants on four separate days within 15 days following FFQ completion.ResultsSpearman rank correlation coefficients for intakes of energy, macronutrients and 18 micronutrients, determined by the two methods, ranged from r = 0·39 to 0·86; adjustment for energy intake tended to increase the correlation coefficients, range ra = 0·55 to 0·89. Bland–Altman statistics showed that mean differences between methods were in the range of −12·5 % to +12·5 % except for vitamin B12 (−18·9 %).ConclusionAlthough there were differences in absolute energy and nutrient intakes between methods, Spearman rank correlation coefficients indicated reasonable agreement in the ranking of intakes. The interviewer-administered FFQ is a useful tool for assessing energy and nutrient intakes of healthy infants aged about 6 months.


2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1094-1103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anette Hjartåker ◽  
Lene Frost Andersen ◽  
Eiliv Lund

AbstractObjectiveTo compare diet measures from a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with measures from 24-hour dietary recalls (24HDRs).DesignThe participants answered an FFQ after completing four, repeated 24HDRs during a year.SettingNorway, nationwide.SubjectsOf 500 women randomly selected from The Norwegian Women and Cancer Study (the Norwegian arm of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition), 286 agreed to participate and 238 completed the study.ResultsOn the group level, the FFQ overestimated absolute intake in seven and underestimated intake in six of 21 food groups. Intakes of energy, fat, added sugar and alcohol were lower in the FFQ than in the 24HDRs, whereas intake of fibre was higher. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient ranged from 0.13 (desserts) to 0.82 (coffee) for foods, and from 0.25 (β-carotene) to 0.67 (alcohol) for nutrients. Three per cent of the observations on nutrient intake fell in the opposite quintile when classified according to the FFQ as compared with the 24HDR. The median calibration coefficient, calculated by regression of the 24HDR data on the FFQ data, was 0.57 for foods and 0.38 for nutrients.ConclusionsThe FFQ's ability to rank subjects was good for foods eaten frequently and fairly good for macronutrients in terms of energy percentages. Weaker ranking abilities were seen for foods eaten infrequently and for some micronutrients. The results underline the necessity of performing measurement error corrections.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilili Feyesa ◽  
Bilal S Endris ◽  
Esete Habtemariam ◽  
Hamid Y Hassen ◽  
Seifu H Gebreyesus

Abstract Background: To date, there is no culture-specific and validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) available in Ethiopia. We developed a FFQ and evaluated its validity as compared to estimates of a food group and nutrient intakes derived from two 24-Hour Dietary Recalls (24-HRs).Method: The FFQ has a total of 89 food items. A total of 105 adults aged 20–65 years participated in this study. Wilcoxon- signed rank test, Spearman’s correlation, Cross-classification, kappa, and Bland-Altman analysis were used to validate food group intakes and nutrients derived from FFQ against two 24-HRs.Results: Mean energy and macronutrient intakes obtained from the FFQ were significantly higher than those obtained from the mean of two 24-HRs. For energy and macronutrients, the correlation between two instruments ranged from 0.05 (total fat) to 0.32 (carbohydrate). Whereas, for micronutrients it ranged from 0.1 (calcium) to 0.49 (vitamin B1). Visual inspection of the Bland-Altman plots for both energy and macronutrients shows no consistent trend across the intake values. For the majority of the food groups, no significant difference was observed in median intake of foods and nutrients between 24-HRs and FFQ. Correlation coefficients for food groups ranged from 0.12 (egg) to 0.78 (legumes). The FFQ showed a fair classification agreement with the 24-HRs for cereals, legumes, and roots and tubers intakes. A systematic trend of overestimation for roots and tubers and under estimation of beverage intakes at higher values was observed when we used FFQ.Conclusion: The FFQ is valid to assess and rank individuals in terms of intakes of most food groups according to high and low intake categories. However, estimates of roots and tuber and beverages should be interpreted with caution.


2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 751-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria M Flood ◽  
Wayne T Smith ◽  
Karen L Webb ◽  
Paul Mitchell

AbstractObjective:To compare methods used to assess the validity of nutrient intake data obtained from a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ), using folate and vitamin B12 as nutrient examples.Design:Cross-sectional sample from a population cohort.Setting:Two postcode areas west of Sydney, Australia.Subjects:In total, 2895 people aged 49 years and older provided dietary data using a semi-quantitative FFQ (79% of 3654 subjects examined). The validity of the FFQ was assessed against three 4-day weighed food records (WFRs) completed by 78 people (mean age 70 years).Results:Folate and vitamin B12 validity data were assessed using different methods. The Spearman ranked correlations (energy-adjusted) were 0.66 for folate and 0.38 for vitamin B12. Using the Bland–Altman method, following loge transformation, no linear trend existed between the differences and means for folate and vitamin B12. Large differences existed between the FFQ and WFR in individual cases, particularly for vitamin B12. Finally, data were divided into quintile categories for the test and reference method: 79% classified folate within one quintile, 65% classified vitamin B12 within one quintile; there was no gross misclassification for folate and only 3% misclassification for vitamin B12.Conclusions:Different methods of analysis provided different information about the validity of the FFQ. Correlation coefficients should not be used alone to assess the validity of nutrient data, but should be used in conjunction with Bland–Altman analyses. Depending on the use of the data, additional assessment of classification categories is recommended. This worked example demonstrates that absolute intakes of folate and vitamin B12 should be used with caution.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deeptha Sukumar ◽  
Rosemary DeLuccia ◽  
May Cheung ◽  
Rohit Ramadoss ◽  
Tammy Ng ◽  
...  

Magnesium (Mg) intake is an important indication of an individual’s Mg status, but no validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess intake currently exists. The purpose of this study was to develop and investigate the validity of a semi-quantitative Mg food frequency questionnaire (MgFFQ) against a 14-day food diary to assess average daily Mg intakes. In this cross-sectional study, 135 adults aged 18 to 75 completed the 33-item MgFFQ and a 14-day food diary to assess their Mg intakes. Coefficients of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and/or Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient tests were used to determine the relationship between the MgFFQ and the average Mg intake from the 14-day food diary among all participants, men, women, age groups, and body mass index (BMI) groups. The correlation between the MgFFQ and the 14-day food diary was significant (p < 0.05) for all participants (r = 0.798), men (r = 0.855), women (r = 0.759), normal weight (r = 0.762), overweight (r = 0.858), and obese (r = 0.675) weight statuses, and in all age groups. The calcium to magnesium intake (Ca:Mg) ratio in all participants was higher than optimal, 3.39 (2.11). Our results suggest that the MgFFQ is a valid method to capture Mg intake over an extended period of time, therefore acting as a valuable tool to quickly determine Mg intake.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilili Feyesa ◽  
Bilal S Endris ◽  
Esete Habtemariam ◽  
Hamid Y Hassen ◽  
Seifu H Gebreyesus

Abstract Background: To date, there is no culture-specific and validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) available in Ethiopia. We developed a FFQ and evaluated its validity as compared to estimates of a food group and nutrient intakes derived from two 24-Hour Dietary Recalls (24-HRs).Method: The FFQ has a total of 89 food items. A total of 105 adults aged 20 to 65 years participated in this study. Wilcoxon- signed rank test, Spearman’s correlation, Cross-classification, kappa, and Bland-Altman analysis were used to validate food group intakes and nutrients derived from the FFQ against two 24-HRs.Results: Mean energy and macronutrient intakes obtained from the FFQ were significantly higher than those obtained from the mean of two 24-HRs. For energy and macronutrients, the correlation between two instruments ranged from 0.05 (total fat) to 0.32 (carbohydrate). Whereas, for micronutrients, it ranged from 0.1 (calcium) to 0.49 (vitamin B1). Visual inspection of the Bland-Altman plots for both energy and macronutrients shows no consistent trend across the intake values. For the majority of the food groups, no significant difference was observed in median intake of foods and nutrients between 24-HRs and the FFQ. The correlation coefficients for food groups ranged from 0.12 (egg) to 0.78 (legumes). The FFQ showed a fair classification agreement with the 24-HRs for cereals, legumes, and roots and tubers intake. A systematic trend of overestimation for roots and tubers and under estimation of beverage intakes at higher values was observed when we used FFQ.Conclusion: The FFQ is valid to assess and rank individuals in terms of intakes of most food groups according to high and low intake categories. However, estimates of roots and tuber and beverages should be interpreted with caution.


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