scholarly journals Validation of a food frequency questionnaire to assess folate intake of Dutch elderly people

2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 1014-1020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ondine van de Rest ◽  
Jane Durga ◽  
Petra Verhoef ◽  
Alida Melse-Boonstra ◽  
Henny A. M. Brants
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Megaloblastic Anemia ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Folate Intake ◽  
Weak Correlation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Food Consumption Survey ◽  
Erythrocyte Folate ◽  
Low Levels

Folate is required for 1-carbon metabolism and deficiency in folate leads to megaloblastic anemia. Low levels of folate have been associated with increased risk of vascular disease. To investigate whether RDA of folate are met, habitual folate intake needs to be assessed reliably. We developed a FFQ to specifically measure folate intake over the previous 3 months in elderly people in the Netherlands. Major sources of folate intake, i.e. foods contributing to at least 80 % of the average folate intake, were identified through an analysis of the second Dutch Food Consumption Survey for the sub-population of men and women aged 50–70. In 2000 and 2001, folate intake was estimated with this questionnaire in 1286 individuals aged 50–75 years. Concentrations of serum and erythrocyte folate served as biomarkers with which relative validity of the questionnaire was assessed. The same FFQ was repeated after 3 years in 803 subjects in order to assess long-term reproducibility. Mean folate intake was estimated to be 196 (sd 69) μg/d. Spearman correlation coefficients between folate intake and serum and erythrocyte concentrations were 0·14 (P < 0·01) and 0·05 (P = 0·06) respectively. Spearman correlations between folate intakes measured at baseline and after 3 years were 0·58 (P < 0·01). 47 % of the participants were classified in the same quartiles on the two occasions. Our FFQ showed a weak correlation between folate intake and blood folate concentrations and reproducibility was acceptable. This FFQ is able to rank subjects according to their folate intake.

scholarly journals Dietary assessment methods for micronutrient intake in elderly people: a systematic review

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (S1) ◽  
pp. S118-S149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Ortiz-Andrellucchi ◽  
Almudena Sánchez-Villegas ◽  
Jorge Doreste-Alonso ◽  
Jeanne de Vries ◽  
Lisette de Groot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Dietary Assessment ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Reference Method ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Dietary Assessment Methods ◽  
Micronutrient Intake

The European micronutrient recommendations aligned (EURRECA) Network of Excellence seeks to establish clear guidelines for assessing the validity of reported micronutrient intakes among vulnerable population groups. A systematic literature review identified studies validating the methodology used in elderly people for measuring usual dietary micronutrient intake. The quality of each validation study selected was assessed using a EURRECA-developed scoring system. The validation studies were categorised according to whether the reference method applied reflected short-term intake ( < 7 d), long-term intake ( ≥ 7 d) or used biomarkers (BM). A correlation coefficient for each micronutrient was calculated from the mean of the correlation coefficients from each study weighted by the quality of the study. Thirty-three papers were selected, which included the validation of twenty-five different FFQ, six diet histories (DH), one 24-h recall (24HR) and a videotaped dietary assessment method. A total of five publications analysed BM, which were used to validate four FFQ, and one 24HR, presenting very good correlations only for vitamin E. The analysis of weighted correlation coefficients classified by FFQ or DH showed that most of the micronutrients had higher correlations when the DH was used as the dietary method. Comparing only FFQ results showed very good correlations for measuring short-term intakes of riboflavin and thiamin and long-term intakes of P and Mg. When frequency methods are used for assessing micronutrient intake, the inclusion of dietary supplements improves their reliability for most micronutrients.

scholarly journals Folate status of Ghanaian populations in London and Accra

2009 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matilda Owusu ◽  
Jane Thomas ◽  
Edwin Wiredu ◽  
Maria Pufulete
Keyword(s):  
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine ◽  
Folate Intake ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Folate Status ◽  
Supplement Use ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Erythrocyte Folate ◽  
The Uk

Migration to the UK is associated with higher incidence of stroke in African populations. A low folate status has been associated with increased risk of stroke, likely to be mediated through raised plasma homocysteine concentrations. We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare blood folate and homocysteine concentrations in eighty healthy Ghanaian migrants living in London matched by sex, age and occupation to 160 individuals from an urban population in Accra, Ghana. Folate intake was determined using three 24 h recalls. Fasting blood samples were collected for the determination of serum and erythrocyte folate and plasma homocysteine concentrations and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C → T polymorphism. Reported mean folate intake was 20 % lower in London compared with Accra (P < 0·001). However, serum folate was 44 % higher, erythrocyte folate 30 % higher and plasma homocysteine was 26 % lower in subjects from London compared with those from Accra (P < 0·001). These differences persisted after adjusting for confounders including the MTHFR 677C → T mutation, which was rare in both populations. Although there were no associations between dietary folate intake and blood folates (P>0·05), folic acid supplement use, which was more prevalent in London than Accra (25 and 10 %, respectively,P = 0·004) was associated with erythrocyte folate in both populations (P < 0·01). The main predictors of plasma homocysteine concentrations were erythrocyte folate and male sex (P < 0·001). Findings from the present study suggest that migration from Ghana to the UK results in improvement of biomarkers of folate status despite the fact that reported dietary intake of folate was apparently lower in subjects from London.

Status and Degree of Dysphagia in the Elderly-A Comparison Study of Long-Term Care Elderly People in an Outpatient Clinic

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanori Komatsu ◽  
Kayoko Hirata ◽  
Idumi Mochimatsu ◽  
Kazuo Matsui ◽  
Hajime Hirose ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Outpatient Clinic ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Comparison Study ◽  
Term Care

Planning Micronutrient-Dense Menus in Ontario Long-Term Care Homes: Strategies and Challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 198-203
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Duizer ◽  
Heather H. Keller
Keyword(s):  
Small Volume ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Dietary Reference Intakes ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
Calcium Magnesium ◽  
Micronutrient Malnutrition ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Food Consumed

Prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition is high in individuals living in long-term care (LTC) homes with many individuals consuming low levels of vitamins B6, D, and E; folate; calcium; magnesium; and zinc. The focus of this research was to identify strategies and challenges encountered during development of micronutrient-dense menus for use in Ontario LTC homes and to examine costs associated with development of a menu with acceptable micronutrients. Semi-structured open-ended interviews were conducted with 13 menu planners (7 dietitians, 6 nutrition managers) in diverse LTC homes in Ontario. Data were thematically analyzed. A 7-day hypothetical menu meeting all nutrient requirements was developed and costed. Analysis of the interview data showed that menus are planned according to the Canada’s Food Guide (2007) and focus placed on Dietary Reference Intakes of protein, fibre, calcium, and sodium. Little focus is placed on micronutrients. Flexibility in foods offered was important to accommodate the small volume of food consumed. Resident preferences were balanced against nutritional requirements. Challenges included planning for diverse populations, managing portion sizes, and balancing the budget. A hypothetical menu planned to contain adequate levels of all micronutrients is 49% higher in food costs than the amount currently provided to Ontario LTC homes.

Long-Term Unemployment in Poland in 2008-2012 - Tendencies, Structure and Selected Determinants

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-359
Author(s):  
Leszek Kucharski
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Education ◽  
Young People ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Increased Risk

This study presents the structure and tendencies in long-term unemployment in Poland in the years 2008-2012. This study identifies the groups of people with an increased risk of long-term unemployment. The analyses produced the following conclusions. The groups with the highest risk of long-term unemployment include: singles, people aged of 55 and above and people with a low level of education. Young people with university and general secondary education faced the lowest risk of long-term unemployment. 

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