Reproducibility and relative validity of food group intake in a food frequency questionnaire developed for Nepalese diet

We developed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) designed to measure the dietary practices of adult Nepalese. The present study examined the validity and reproducibility of the FFQ. To evaluate the reproducibility of the FFQ, 116 subjects completed two 115-item FFQ across a four-month interval. Six 24-h dietary recalls were collected (1 each month) to assess the validity of the FFQ. Seven major food groups and 23 subgroups were clustered from the FFQ based on macronutrient composition. Spearman correlation coefficients evaluating reproducibility for all food groups were greater than 0.5, with the exceptions of oil. The correlations varied from 0.41 (oil) to 0.81 (vegetables). All crude spearman coefficients for validity were greater than 0.5 except for dairy products, pizzas/pastas and sausage/burgers. The FFQ was found to be reliable and valid for ranking the intake of food groups for Nepalese dietary intake.     

Reproducibility and validity of an interviewer-administered semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intake of urban adults in southern India

We report on the reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed for southern India. One hundred and two adult subjects aged ≥20 years drawn from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study participated. The FFQ was developed based on local foods and habits, and was administered three times at 0, 6 and 12 month periods (called FFQ1, FFQ2 and FFQ3) to assess the reproducibility. To test the validity of the FFQ, multiple 24-h recalls collected at 2-monthly intervals for a period of 1 year and the estimated energy intake/basal metabolic rate (EI/BMR) ratio were used. The ‘EpiNu’ in-house food and nutrient database was used to compile dietary intakes, which were analyzed for statistical analysis. The intraclass correlation coefficient for all three FFQs ranged from 0.72 for carbohydrates to 0.45 for folate. The de-attenuated Pearson correlation for the energy adjusted nutrients between FFQ3 and 24-h recalls ranged from 0.73 for carbohydrates to 0.35 for calcium. Bland and Altman plots for energy intake between the two methods showed the limits of agreement ranged from 768 to ?1358 calories/day (±2 standard deviations). Misclassification was low for most of the nutrients. Under-reporting of the energy intake (EI/BMR ratio<1.2) was higher in females than males. This FFQ appears to be a robust tool to measure dietary intakes in southern India.     

Validation of a short food frequency questionnaire in Australian adults

The aim of this article is to report on the validity and internal consistency of a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to measure dietary intake in Australian adults. A total of 407 individuals completed the short FFQ. The Cronbach’s alpha of 0.66 indicated acceptable internal consistency for the FFQ. Content validity was measured using factor analysis showed that 35% of total variance was explained by factor analysis. The FFQ was also validated against 31 3-day food records (FR). No significant difference between average intake of energy, most macronutrients, and some micronutrients between two instruments was identified. An acceptable levels of correlation (0.39–0.69) was observed between the two instruments. Bland and Altman’s plots showed relative agreement in both instruments with potential bias in measuring iron and iodine. The current FFQ can be an acceptable tool to quickly measuring dietary intake in Australian adults.     

中国孕妇及儿童青少年食物频率问卷信效度系统综述

目的 系统性梳理我国孕妇及儿童青少年食物频率问卷（food frequency questionnaire, FFQ）的信效度研究现状。方法 基于中国知网、万方数据知识服务平台、维普期刊、PubMed、Embase数据库,系统检索截至2022年4月6日发表的关于中国孕妇及儿童青少年FFQ的信效度研究。对文献进行筛选评价,分析研究基本特征及整体信效度。结果 共纳入12篇文献（孕妇组、儿童青少年组各6篇）,样本量范围为100~405名,FFQ食物清单数目范围为63~172项。大多数研究缺乏针对FFQ设计、实施及数据处理标准化流程的详细说明。经质量评价,6篇评价为质量好,4篇中等,2篇较差。 FFQ信度均值范围:孕妇组为0.32~0.45（食物组）和0.29~0.71（营养素）;儿童青少年组为0.40~0.53（食物组）和0.34~0.66（营养素）。FFQ对比金标准（包括24小时膳食回顾或膳食记录法）的效度均值范围:孕妇组为0.34~0.43（食物组）和0.16~0.69（营养素）,其中禽肉、鱼类和叶酸的效度较低（＜0.30）;儿童青少年组为0.21~0.60（食物组）和0.29~0.85（营养素）,其中鱼类和坚果的效度较低（＜0.30）。结论 中国孕妇及儿童青少年FFQ的信效度水平存在一定差异,部分FFQ的平均信效度能达到中等及较高水平,个别营养素和食物组的效度较低。此外,FFQ应用的规范化标准流程仍需完善与统一,不同地区人群流行病学研究及临床研究中FFQ的应用及推广有待进一步的优化。     

Reproducibility and comparative validity of a food frequency questionnaire for Australian children and adolescents

Background  

Dietary intake during childhood and adolescence is of increasing interest due to its influence on adult health, particularly obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There is a need to develop and validate dietary assessment methods suitable for large epidemiologic studies of children and adolescents. Limited large scale dietary studies of youth have been undertaken in Australia, due partly to the lack of a suitable dietary intake tool. A self-administered, semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the 'Australian Child and Adolescent Eating Survey' (ACAES), was developed for youth aged 9-16 years. This study evaluated reproducibility and comparative validity of the ACAES FFQ using assisted food records (FRs) as the reference method.     

Reliability and relative validity of a food frequency questionnaire for Italian adults living in Sicily,Southern Italy

The aim of this study was to develop and test the reliability and relative validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) specifically developed for individuals living in Sicily, southern Italy. This study was conducted on a convenient sample of 178 adult volunteers aged 18–80 years recruited in the urban population of Catania. Dietary intake estimated by 2 FFQs was compared with six 24-h recalls covering a period of 10 months. A total of 110 food items were included in the FFQ. Person’s coefficients between the first FFQ and mean of the six 24-h recalls showed high correlations for coffee, tea, pasta and dairy products, alcohol, total fats and carbohydrates (in women). The test–retest analysis showed high reproducibility of the FFQ. We showed that our FFQ provided a useful estimate of both food and nutrient intake in a healthy adult population.     

Reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire: Korea Nurses' Health Study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESThis study aimed to examine the reproducibility of food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) designed for young female nurses in the Korea Nurses'' Health Study.SUBJECTS/METHODSThe reproducibility of web-based, self-administered FFQs was evaluated among 243 Korean female nurses. The first FFQ (FFQ1) was administered from March 2014 to February 2019 and the second FFQ (FFQ2) from November 2019, with a mean interval of 2.8 years between the FFQs (range, 9 months–5.6 years). Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients (r values) and quartile agreements between FFQ1 and FFQ2 were calculated for intakes of energy, nutrients, and foods.RESULTSPearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0.41 to 0.55 (median r = 0.51) for energy and raw nutrients and from 0.16 to 0.46 (median r = 0.36) for energy-adjusted nutrients. Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.25 to 0.72 (median r = 0.41) for food items. The percentages of women who were classified into the same or adjacent quartile were 77% to 84% (median = 82%) for raw nutrients and 69% to 86% (median = 78%) for foods.CONCLUSIONSThe results indicated that the web-based FFQ used in the Korea Nurses'' Health Study has acceptable reproducibility.     

Relative validity of dietary patterns during pregnancy assessed with a food frequency questionnaire

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the relative validity of maternal dietary patterns derived from a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). A total of 162 pregnant women aged 19–40-years-old were enrolled from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Birth Cohort Study in year 2010 and 2011. The FFQ was compared with three 24-h dietary recalls (DRs). Two major dietary patterns were derived from the principle component analysis which are labeled as Healthy and Less-Healthy patterns. The Pearson correlation coefficients between FFQ and DRs for Healthy and Less-Healthy patterns were 0.59 and 0.63, respectively. At least 45% of the participants were correctly classified into the same third from the FFQ and DR for both dietary patterns. The weighted kappa showed moderate agreement for Healthy pattern while good agreement for Less-Healthy pattern between these two dietary assessment methods. Our results indicate reasonable validity of the dietary patterns identified from the FFQ in pregnant women.     

北京市儿童青少年食物频率问卷的信度和效度研究

目的 对研制的北京市儿童青少年食物频率问卷的信度和效度进行评价,为儿童青少年营养状况评估和健康干预以及饮食习惯与慢性疾病关联性的研究提供一个简便、可信的研究工具。方法 对北京市130名10~17岁儿童青少年进行4次24 h饮食回顾调查和2次食物频率问卷调查,24- h饮食回顾作为“标准”方法与食物频率问卷比较来评价其效度, 2次间隔6个月的食物频率问卷调查结果相比较来评价其信度。结果 两次食物频率问卷调查结果间能量及营养素摄入量估计差异较小,除蛋白质、磷和锌的摄入量第二次低于第一次外(P<0.05),其他营养素摄入量间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。两次食物频率问卷调查结果间所有能量及营养素摄入量均呈正相关(P<0.01),Pearson相关系数从0.315(钙)至0.521(锌),平均为0.431,女性高于男性(0.49 vs 0.32)。食物频率问卷调查的能量及营养素摄入量均高于24 h饮食回顾(P<0.01),食物频率问卷高估明显。调整总能量摄入和个体内变异等影响后,食物频率问卷与24 h饮食回顾调查结果的能量和所有营养素摄入量均呈正相关(P<0.05),Pearson相关系数从0.27(维生素A)至0.53(锌),平均0.38。四分位分组显示:研究对象被良好区分(相同组或相邻组),比例从66.2%(维生素E、钙)至79.2%(铁),平均73.0%,研究对象被严重错分(相隔2组),比例平均为6.2%。结论 此食物频率问卷有较好的信度和效度,可作为今后儿童青少年膳食营养摄入状况调查和评价的适用工具。     

食物频率法评估贫血学生膳食铁摄入量的相对效度研究

目的以称重记录法结合24小时回顾法为参考方法,评估食物频率法应用于调查贫血学生膳食铁摄入量及其相关营养素和食物摄入量的相对效度。方法分别应用称重记录法结合24小时回顾法和食物频率法对156名10～14岁在校贫血学生进行膳食调查,计算平均每日膳食铁、血红素铁、非血红素铁、抗坏血酸、畜肉/禽肉/鱼肉和蛋类摄入量,采用Wilcoxon配对秩和检验、Spearman秩相关分析、交叉归类分析、替代分类的真实值分析评估食物频率法的准确度。结果与参考方法相比,食物频率法高估了贫血学生膳食铁摄入量及其相关营养素和食物摄入量,与参考方法调查结果的相关性较低。交叉归类分析、替代分类的真实值分析结果显示,食物频率法不能很好的区分营养素摄入量的不同水平。结论食物频率法应用于调查贫困地区贫血学生的膳食铁及相关营养素摄入量水平的准确性较低。     

The Comparative Validity and Reproducibility of a Diet Quality Index for Adults: The Australian Recommended Food Score

Adult diet quality indices are shown to predict nutritional adequacy of dietary intake as well as all-cause morbidity and mortality. This study describes the reproducibility and validity of a food-based diet quality index, the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS). ARFS was developed to reflect alignment with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and is modelled on the US Recommended Food Score. Dietary intakes of 96 adult participants (31 male, 65 female) age 30 to 75 years were assessed in two rounds, five months apart. Diet was assessed using a 120-question semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The ARFS diet quality index was derived using a subset of 70 items from the full FFQ. Reproducibility of the ARFS between round one and round two was confirmed by the overall intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.87 (95% CI 0.83, 0.90), which compared favourably to that for the FFQ at 0.85 (95% CI 0.80, 0.89). ARFS was correlated with FFQ nutrient intakes, particularly fiber, vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin C (0.53, 95% CI 0.37–0.67), and with mineral intakes, particularly calcium, magnesium and potassium (0.32, 95% CI 0.23–0.40). ARFS is a suitable brief tool to evaluate diet quality in adults and reliably estimates a range of nutrient intakes.     

Reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: Methods to evaluate food consumption still need improvement. A study was conducted to verify the reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) among overweight adults. METHODS: The study was carried out in a private university in S?o Paulo, Brazil. The study sample consisted of 146 individuals of both sex with body mass index =25 kg/m2 and age between 18 and 60 years old. For reproducibility the FFQ was applied by trained interviewers at two different instances with a mean interval time of 47 days. For validity, data collected from the FFQ were compared with those obtained from the average of 3 different daily records of a 24-hour dietary recall (mean interval time: 15 days). Validity and reproducibility of data on calories and macronutrients consumption was assessed using pondered kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: A higher variability in the reporting of regular food consumption was seen among obese than overweight individuals. Concerning reproducibility, kappa statistical values varied from 0.23 (carbohydrates and fats) to 0.40 (calories), and intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.28 (protein) to 0.54 (total calories). For FFQ validity, the highest kappa value was 0.25 (calories), and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.21 (protein). CONCLUSIONS: Food consumption reports of overweight individuals tend to be underestimated. Despite its limitations, FFQ could be used in epidemiological studies to assess the regular food consumption of overweight individuals.     

Dietary assessment of an educated young Spanish population using a self-administered meal-based food frequency questionnaire

In this study a self-administered meal-based semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was developed, whose main aim was to classify individuals by their intake of food groups and nutrients. The respondents (205 final participants) from the target population were recruited from students and staff of the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Ciudad Real (Spain). The validity of the questionnaire was assessed in comparison with a four-day weighed diet record on a subset group of participants (n = 38). Results of the calibration study were similar to those reported in the literature, showing a reasonable correlation between the two methods. To improve dietary habits of the target population, an effective nutritional education programme should stress the importance of increasing consumption of food groups rich in starch and reducing those containing high level of proteins, sugars, fat and cholesterol.     

Relative validity and utility of a short food frequency questionnaire assessing the intake of legumes in Scottish women

OBJECTIVE: To validate a five-item, semi-quantitative, short food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) designed to estimate daily legume consumption over a week, against results obtained from 7-day food diaries (7-day FD). DESIGN: Participants completed a 7-day FD and at the end of this period completed the SFFQ, to indicate the number of times they ate five legume-containing dishes in the previous week and what size portion of each dish they consumed. Daily legume intake (g day(-1)) was calculated for both methods and participants were classified into tertiles of intake for each method. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Fifty-one healthy females aged 25-55 years, employed at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK between May 2003 and December 2004. RESULTS: The two methods produced a similar mean intake of legumes [SFFQ: 14.8 (95% CI: 9.9-19.8) versus 7-day FD: 14.9 (95% CI: 9.3-20.6) g day(-1)] and the Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.353 (P = 0.038). Exact agreement within tertiles and gross misclassification were 54.9% and 9.8% respectively. The weighted kappa statistic indicated fair agreement between the two methods (kappa = 0.262). CONCLUSIONS: The SFFQ is an acceptable instrument for estimating legume consumption over a week and can be used to rank individuals according to the intake of this food group in similar nutrition intervention studies.     

Repeatability and validity of a food frequency questionnaire in free-living older people in relation to cognitive function

Objectives: To determine the repeatability and validity of a self-administered, 175-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in free-living older people and to assess whether these are influenced by cognitive function.Participants and setting: 189 free-living people aged 64–80y were recruited from participants in a previous study.Design: To assess repeatability, 102 (52M, 50F) participants completed the FFQ on two occasions three months apart. To assess validity, another 87 participants (44 M, 43 F) completed the FFQ and a four-day weighed diet record three months later. 25 nutrients were studied.Results: For repeatability, Spearman rank correlation coefficients were above 0.35 (p<0.05) for all nutrients. Cohen’s weighted Kappa was above 0.4 for all nutrients except starch, riboflavin, retinol, β-carotene, and calcium. There were no substantial differences in correlation coefficients between sub-groups divided by short-term memory test score. There was no clear pattern for correlation coefficients in sub-groups divided by executive function test score. For validity, the Spearman rank correlation coefficients were above 0.2 (p<0.05) for all nutrients except fat, mono-unsaturated fatty acids, niacin equivalents and vitamin D, and Cohen’s weighted kappa was above 0.4 for alcohol and was above 0.2 for 13 other nutrients. Participants in the lowest-score groups of short-term memory and executive function had the lowest median Spearman correlation coefficient.Conclusions: The FFQ had reasonable repeatability and validity in ranking nutrient intakes in this population though the results varied between nutrients. Poor short-term memory or executive function may affect FFQ validity in ranking nutrient intakes.     

Validation of an Australian electronic food frequency questionnaire to measure polyunsaturated fatty acid intake

Objective

To develop and validate a simple non-invasive method that estimates the intakes of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in a healthy adult population.

Methods

A new electronic PUFA food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was validated by comparison with a 3-d weighed food record and blood biomarkers (erythrocytes and plasma) using the method of triads model and tested for reproducibility. Healthy subjects were recruited from the local Illawarra Region, New South Wales, Australia.

Results

The PUFA FFQ adequately estimated intakes for eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, total long chain omega-3 PUFA, linoleic acid, total omega-6 PUFA, and total PUFA, which were comparable with results from the 3-d food record. Eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and total long chain omega-3 showed high validity coefficients for erythrocytes (and plasma) 0.92 (0.87), 0.69 (0.64), and 0.78 (0.73) (P < 0.05), respectively. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients ranged from 0.48 to 0.76 when the PUFA FFQ was tested for reproducibility (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The electronic PUFA questionnaire was found to be reproducible and is a valid tool to assess PUFA intakes in a healthy adult population.