A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in epidemiologic research among the elderly: Validation by comparison with dietary history

Abstract

A self-administered semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire including 75 food items and providing information on the habitual intake of 31 nutritional parameters, based on the intake of protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber and 11 vitamins and minerals, was developed for use in epidemiologic research on chronic disease among the elderly, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. By means of detailed frequency and quantity questions, specifications of types of food, preparation methods and seasonal variation, the questionnaire was expected to be an improvement on existing instruments. The relative validity of the questionnaire was examined in 74 men and women, aged 50-75, by comparison with a modified dietary history. Systematic differences were absent or negligible for all nutrients, except vitamin C. Bias depending on the level of intake could be ruled out for all but seven nutrients. Pearson correlation coefficients for estimates from the questionnaire and dietary history were on average 0.71 (range: 0.65-0.78) and 0.66 (range: 0.36-0.81) for macronutrients, and vitamins and minerals, respectively. Classifying individual intake estimates into tertiles of the distribution for both methods, on average 62.4 and 54.7% of the intakes were categorized into the same tertile and 3.9 and 5.9% into the opposite tertile for macronutrients, vitamins and minerals, respectively. These results demonstrate an acceptable relative validity for this newly developed questionnaire, as compared to the dietary history method.

Dietary assessment in the elderly: validation of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire

“…Published correlation coef®cients between nutrient intakes recorded by a (S)FFQ and by a reference method have varied considerably depending, for example, on the reference method applied and the number of days recorded. The correlation coef®cients observed in the current study, range from close to 0.5 to about 0.9 for crude and from 0.4± 0.8 for adjusted data, indicated relatively good validity and were similar to results of studies where either a (S)FFQ or dietary history were validated in the elderly (Jain et al, 1996;van Staveren et al, 1996;Grootenhuis et al, 1995;Rothenberg, 1994;Horwarth, 1993;Mares-Perlmann et al, 1993;Nes et al, 1992;Mahalko et al, 1985;Munger et al, 1992). In comparison with results obtained in validation studies conducted in younger populations results obtained in the elderly were by no means less reliable and valid (Block et al, 1990;Rimm et al, 1992;Goldbohm et al, 1994Goldbohm et al, , 1995Willett et al, 1985;Pietinen et al, 1988a,b;Engle et al, 1990;Gnardellis et al, 1995;Tjoenneland et al, 1991).…”

Safety of long-term consumption of plant sterol esters-enriched spread

“…Subjects used a self-selected diet with some dietary counseling, such as recipes with alternatives for spread use. Food intake over the preceding period was evaluated each 3 month period using a TNO food frequency questionnaire (modified version of the validated questionnaire (Grootenhuis et al, 1995)) assessing the continuity of intake of energy, macronutrients (protein, fats (saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol), carbohydrates and fiber). Questionnaires also surveyed smoking habits and consumption of spreads.…”

Spreads enriched with three different levels of vegetable oil sterols and the degree of cholesterol lowering in normocholesterolaemic and mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects

“…Dietary intake, excluding the spreads, was assessed at the end of each of the four periods using a modi®ed version of the validated TNO food frequency questionnaire (Grootenhuis et al, 1995). The questionnaire was applied to assess continuity in the intake of macronutrients, main fats, total energy, alcohol and ®bre.…”