Relative Validity and Reproducibility of Dietary Measurements Assessed by a Semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire among Chinese Healthy Adults

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the relative validity and reproducibility of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) in adult populations in China. Among the 49 recruited healthy participants (age range: 20–60 years), the relative validity of a 79-item SFFQ was assessed in two ways: (1) by comparing its dietary intake estimates with those from the average measurements of three inconsecutive 24 h dietary records (24-HDRs); and (2) by comparing its estimates of dietary fatty acids with the measured plasma levels of fatty acids. The reproducibility of the SFFQ was evaluated by a comparison of two SFFQ measurements from the same participants collected one year apart. In the relative validity study, the average Spearman correlation coefficient (r) was 0.27 among 18 prespecified food group intakes estimated from the SFFQ and the 24-HDRs; nevertheless, that of five food group intakes (e.g., red meat and seafood) was higher (all rs > 0.40, p < 0.05). In addition, a moderate correlation between the SFFQ estimate of polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes (energy-adjusted percentage of total fatty acids) and its plasma level was observed (r = 0.42, p < 0.05). Regarding the one-year reproducibility of the SFFQ-assessed intakes, the average rank intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.35 for the 18 food group estimates. In particular, moderately reproducible estimates of seven food group intakes (e.g., refined grains and red meat, all ICCs ≥ 0.40, p < 0.05) were observed. In conclusion, the SFFQ provides valid and reproducible estimates of dietary intakes for various food groups in general and performs well as a potential tool for estimating habitual dietary intakes of some unsaturated fatty acids.

Oral Microbiota Linking Associations of Dietary Factors with Recurrent Oral Ulcer

“…First, the current analysis relied on questionnaires to collect data on dietary intake and oral conditions. Despite that the validation study of our food frequency questionnaire showed robust reliability and validity [21], recall bias relying on participants' ability to recall their food intake frequency and quantity over a specific period is quite possible. Meanwhile, we did not collect information on visits to dental professionals or oral hygiene practices or medication.…”

“…Dietary data were collected using a validated 79-item food frequency questionnaire [21], which assessed the consumption frequencies and the portion sizes of food items consumed by the participants over the past 12 months. The average daily intake of each food item was calculated by multiplying its daily frequency and the corresponding portion size.…”

Validity of food and nutrient intakes assessed by a food frequency questionnaire among Chinese adults

“…In a previous meta-analysis of the validity of FFQ among Chinese adults compared with 24HRs, the pooled SCC ranged from 0.28 (edible oil) to 0.62 (milk and dairy products) for food groups, and from 0.34 (manganese) to 0.88 (copper) for nutrients [ 5 ]. In particular, a previous study evaluated a Chinese FFQ with 149 food items among 300 Chinese adults aged 25–64 years in Jiangsu Province and Beijing municipality; the crude correlation coefficients between the FFQ and six-repeated 3 consecutive days-24HRs ranged from 0.15 (nuts) to 0.90 (liquor) for foods (mean r = 0.55) and from 0.22 (vitamin C) to 0.84 (polyunsaturated fatty acid) for nutrients (mean r = 0.56) [ 19 ].…”

“…A recent meta-analysis among healthy adults including 130 validation studies worldwide demonstrated that the mean correlation coefficients of nutrients assessed by FFQs was 0.416 compared with the 24-hour dietary recalls (24HRs), and was 0.373 compared with dietary records (DRs), indicating a moderate-to-high validity of using FFQs to assess nutrient intakes, despite some low performance for several specific nutrients [ 4 ]. In another meta-analysis among Chinese free-living adults across 30 validation studies, the pooled correlation coefficients were 0.44 for nutrients and 0.41 for food groups compared with 24HRs; and the corresponding correlation coefficients were 0.35 for nutrients and 0.42 for food groups compared with DRs [ 5 ].…”

Dyslipidemia and its associated factors among community adults located in Shangcheng district, Zhejiang province

“…The questionnaires covered socio-demographic characteristics, health-related information, lifestyle information, and the frequency and consumption of various food items. Information regarding dietary consumption was collected through food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that is widely employed in mainland China 15 , 16 . Participants were required to report their frequency of consumption of various food weekly over the past year, as well as the quantity of each food item consumed during each instance.…”