scholarly journals Reproducibility and Validity of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Dietary Assessment in Adolescents in a Self-Reported Way

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2081
Author(s):  
Leyre Notario-Barandiaran ◽  
Carmen Freire ◽  
Manuela García-de-la-Hera ◽  
Laura Mª Compañ-Gabucio ◽  
Laura Torres-Collado ◽  
...  

Tools to assess diet in a reliable and efficient way are needed, particularly in children and adolescents. In this study, we assess the reproducibility and validity of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) among adolescents in Spain. We analyzed data of 51 male adolescents aged 15–17 years from a prospective birth cohort study. Participants answered the FFQ twice in a self-administered way over a 12-month period. Reproducibility was assessed by comparing nutrient and food intakes from the FFQs, and validity by comparing nutrient intakes from the average of two FFQs and the average of two 24-Hour Dietary Recalls obtained in the period. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated. The average of reproducibility correlation coefficients for food group intakes was 0.33, with the highest correlation for vegetable intake (r = 0.81); and the average for nutrient intake was 0.32, with the highest coefficients for α- and β-carotene (r = 0.65). Validity correlation coefficients ranged from 0.07 for carbohydrates to 0.53 for dietary fiber. The average of the validity correlation coefficients was r = 0.32. This study suggests that our FFQ may be a useful tool for assessing dietary intake of most nutrient and food groups among Spanish male adolescents in a self-administered way, despite reproducibility and, particularly validity, being low for some nutrients and food groups.

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus Vioque ◽  
Manuela Garcia-de-la-Hera ◽  
Sandra Gonzalez-Palacios ◽  
Laura Torres-Collado ◽  
Leyre Notario-Barandiaran ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to examine if the short semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is a reliable and valid tool to assess the diet of Spanish children aged 7–9 years. We collected data from 156 children of the birth cohort INMA (Infancia y Medio Ambiente (Environment and Childhood)). Children’s parents or care-givers completed a 46-item FFQ on two occasions over a 9–12-month period about the children’s diet. To explore the reproducibility of the FFQ, the nutrient and food group intake collected from the both FFQs were compared, while validity was examined by contrasting the nutrient values from the FFQs and the average of three 24-hour dietary recalls (24hDRs) taken in this period, and also with the concentration of several vitamins in the blood (carotenoids, vitamin D and α-tocopherol). Pearson and de-attenuated correlation coefficients were calculated. The average correlation coefficients for nutrient intake’s reproducibility was 0.41, ranging from 0.25 (calcium) to 0.65 (β-carotene), and for food group intake was 0.45, ranging from 0.18 (cereals) to 0.68 (sweetened beverages). Correlation coefficients slightly improved when we compared energy-adjusted intakes. The average correlation coefficients for validity against 24hDRs was 0.34 for energy-adjusted intakes, and 0.39 when de-attenuation coefficients were used. The validity coefficients against the blood concentrations of vitamins were 0.38 for β-cryptoxanthin, 0.26 for lycopene, 0,23 for α-carotene and 0.15 for β-carotene, all of them statistically significant (p < 0.05). This study suggests that our brief FFQ is a suitable tool for the dietary assessment of a wide range of nutrients and food groups in children 7–9 years, despite the low to moderate reproducibility and validity observed for some nutrients.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 750
Author(s):  
Leyre Notario-Barandiaran ◽  
Eva-María Navarrete-Muñoz ◽  
Desirée Valera-Gran ◽  
Elena Hernández-Álvarez ◽  
Encarnación Donoso-Navarro ◽  
...  

Reliable tools to evaluate diet are needed, particularly in life periods such as adolescence in which a rapid rate of growth and development occurs. We assessed the biochemical validity of a self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in a sample of Spanish male adolescents using carotenoids and vitamin E and D data. We analyzed data from 122 male adolescents aged 15–17 years of the INMA-Granada birth cohort study. Adolescents answered a 104-item FFQ and provided a non-fasting blood sample. Mean daily nutrient intakes and serum concentration were estimated for main carotenoids (lutein-zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, α-carotene and β-carotene), vitamins E and D and also for fruit and vegetable intake. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) and the percentage of agreement (same or adjacent quintiles) between serum vitamin concentrations and energy-adjusted intakes were estimated. Statistically significant correlation coefficients were observed for the total carotenoids (r = 0.40) and specific carotenoids, with the highest correlation observed for lutein–zeaxanthin (r = 0.42) and the lowest for β-carotene (0.23). The correlation coefficient between fruit and vegetable intake and serum carotenoids was 0.29 (higher for vegetable intake, r = 0.33 than for fruit intake, r = 0.19). Low correlations were observed for vitamin E and D. The average percentage of agreement for carotenoids was 55.8%, and lower for vitamin E and D (50% and 41%, respectively). The FFQ may be an acceptable tool for dietary assessment among male adolescents in Spain.


2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 993-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Villegas ◽  
Gong Yang ◽  
DaKe Liu ◽  
Yong-Bing Xiang ◽  
Hui Cai ◽  
...  

We evaluated the validity and reproducibility of the FFQ used in the Shanghai Men's Health Study (SMHS). The study included 195 randomly selected participants of the SMHS who completed one FFQ at baseline, twelve 24-hour dietary recalls (24-HDR) (once a month for twelve consecutive months) and a second FFQ at the end of the study. The FFQ accounted for 88·78 % of the foods recorded in the 24-HDR surveys. The validity of the FFQ was evaluated by comparing nutrient and food group intake levels from the second FFQ and the multiple 24-HDR. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0·38 to 0·64 for macronutrients, 0·33 to 0·58 for micronutrients and 0·35 to 0·72 for food groups. Misclassification to opposite quartiles for nutrients and food groups was rare, ranging from 1·5 to 7·7 %, while exact agreement rates were between 31·8 and 53·3 %. The reliability of the FFQ was assessed by comparing the intake levels from the two FFQ. Correlation coefficients were 0·39 to 0·53 for macronutrients, 0·38 to 0·52 for micronutrients and 0·39 to 0·64 for food groups. Exact agreement rates for quartile distribution were between 31·8 and 49·2 %, while misclassification to opposite quartiles was between 1·5 and 6·2 %. These data indicate that the SMHS FFQ can reasonably categorise usual intake of nutrients and food groups among men living in urban Shanghai.


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.


2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman ◽  
Walter C Willett ◽  
Rebecca Lobb ◽  
Jamie Kotch ◽  
Charles Dart ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveDiet is an important determinant of health outcomes, but physicians have few ways to identify persons with suboptimal diets. The purposes of this study were to examine the reproducibility of a short dietary assessment questionnaire (PrimeScreen) and to compare its results with those of a longer food frequency questionnaire and with plasma levels of selected nutrients.DesignEach subject completed two PrimeScreen questionnaires at an interval of 2 weeks and one full length, 131-item, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ), and had a sample of blood drawn. We compared the PrimeScreen with two reference standards, the SFFQ and plasma levels of selected nutrients.SettingA large managed care organization in New England.SubjectsA total of 160 men and women, aged 19–65 years, participated.ResultsFor foods and food groups, the mean correlation coefficient (r) was 0.70 for reproducibility and 0.61 for comparability with the SFFQ. For nutrients, the mean r was 0.74 for reproducibility and 0.60 for comparability with the SFFQ. No substantial differences were evident by sex, race, body mass index, occupation or education. Correlation coefficients for the comparison of vitamin E, β-carotene and lutein/zeaxanthin intakes from the PrimeScreen with plasma levels were 0.33, 0.43 and 0.43, respectively. These values were similar to those comparing the SFFQ with plasma levels. The median time to complete PrimeScreen was 5 min; 87% of participants required fewer than 10 min.ConclusionsA quick way to assess quality of diet among adults, PrimeScreen has adequate reproducibility and its results compare well with a longer food frequency questionnaire and biomarkers.


2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 194-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Nagel ◽  
Dorothee Zoller ◽  
Tilla Ruf ◽  
Sabine Rohrmann ◽  
Jakob Linseisen

Within a prospective cohort study, we explored the long-term reproducibility of the food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and dietary changes in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Heidelberg cohort. After a mean follow-up time of 68·8 (sd 4·1) months the dietary assessment by means of a validated FFQ was repeated in 21 462 participants in the EPIC-Heidelberg cohort. The correlation and test–retest reproducibility of both dietary intake measurements was explored. The long-term correlation coefficients ranged from 0·41 (vegetables in men) to 0·77 (alcoholic beverage consumption in women). The median intake of potatoes, added fat, sugar/confectionary, cakes and alcoholic beverages was lower in the second than in the first FFQ, whereas the median intake of fruits, vegetables, cereals/cereal products and non-alcoholic beverages were higher. Consistently for food groups, 60–70 % of the participants in both genders were re-classified to the same or adjacent quintile of intake. The results of fairly high correlation coefficients indicate good agreement between both measurements. It is acknowledged that this result reflects to a substantial extent the measurement error of the FFQ and conclusions on real changes in the diet should be drawn very carefully. For some nutrients the dietary changes were consistent with results from independent national surveys. The performance of the FFQ gives confidence in the dietary data to be used as long-term exposure variables.


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.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2002
Author(s):  
Hiba Bawadi ◽  
Rand T. Akasheh ◽  
Abdelhamid Kerkadi ◽  
Salma Haydar ◽  
Reema Tayyem ◽  
...  

This study aimed at developing a valid culture-sensitive quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Qatari adults. A convenient sample of healthy Qataris (n = 107) were recruited from family members of Qatar University students. The Diet History Questionnaire II of the US National Cancer Institute was translated to Arabic language, back-translated to English, pilot tested, and then modified accordingly to be used in Qatari setting. Participants were asked to complete the translated version of the FFQ. This FFQ was then validated against three 24 h diet recall (24 hDR) including a weekend day. Participants were asked to complete the FFQ again after one-month period to measure its repeatability. Dietary data were analyzed using the dietary analysis software ESHA. The validity and reliability of FFQ were assessed by comparing the median intake of nutrients and foods and by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficients. The median nutrient intakes assessed by the second FFQ were higher than that reported in the baseline FFQ1 except for fat. The percentage of increase varies between 1.5% and 96%. Results of the second FFQ indicated an overestimation of intake for most nutrients (macro and micro). Macronutrient intakes assessed by the two FFQ and 24 hDR were strongly correlated. The correlation coefficients for micronutrient intakes between FFQ2 and 24hDR were lower than that of the two FFQs except for calcium (r = 0.55) and sodium (r = 0.643). They ranged from (−0.17) for fluorine to (0.643) for sodium. The agreement rates for classifying macronutrient intakes into same or adjacent quartile were between 79.4% and 100% for the two FFQs and between 71% and 100% for the second FFQ and 24hDR. The reported consumption of food groups estimated by FFQ2 was significantly higher than that reported by FFQ1. In conclusion, the developed FFQ was sufficiently valid to assess energy and macronutrients but not micronutrients. The reliability was adequate for most nutrients.


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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Ding ◽  
Fang Li ◽  
Ping Hu ◽  
Mei Ye ◽  
Fangping Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The dietary nutritional status of the lactating mothers is related to maternal health and has a significant impact on the growth and development of infants through the secretion of breast milk. The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is the most cost-effective dietary assessment method that can help obtain information on the usual dietary pattern of participants. Until now, the FFQs have been used for different populations in China, but there are few FFQs available for the lactating mothers. We aimed to develop a semi-quantitative, 156-item FFQ for the Chinese lactating mothers, and evaluate its reproducibility and relative validity. Methods A total of 112 lactating mothers completed two FFQs and one 3-d dietary record (3DR). The first FFQ (FFQ1) was conducted during postpartum at 60–65 days and the second FFQ (FFQ2) during subsequent follow-up at 5 weeks. The 3DR was completed with portion sizes assessed using photographs taken by the respondent before and after eating (instant photography) 1 week after FFQ1. Results For reproducibility, the Spearman’s correlation coefficients for food ranged from 0.34 to 0.68, and for nutrients from 0.25 to 0.61. Meanwhile, the intra-class correlation coefficients for food ranged from 0.48 to 0.87, and for nutrients from 0.27 to 0.70. For relative validity, the Spearman’s correlation coefficients for food ranged from 0.32 to 0.56, and for nutrients from 0.23 to 0.72. The energy-adjusted coefficients for food ranged from 0.26 to 0.55, and for nutrients from 0.22 to 0.47. Moreover, the de-attenuation coefficients for food ranged from 0.34 to 0.67, and for nutrients from 0.28 to 0.77. The Bland-Altman plots also showed reasonably acceptable agreement between the two methods. Conclusions This FFQ is a reasonably reproducible and a relative valid tool for assessing dietary intake of the Chinese lactating mothers.


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