Validation of Diet ID™ in Predicting Nutrient Intake Compared to Dietary Recalls, Skin Carotenoid Scores, and Plasma Carotenoids in University Students

Abstract

Background and Aim: Collecting accurate dietary information in the research setting is challenging due to the inherent biases, duration, and resource-intensive nature of traditional data collection methods. Diet ID™ is a novel, rapid assessment method that uses an image-based algorithm to identify dietary patterns and estimate nutrient intake. The purpose of this analysis was to explore the criterion validity between Diet ID™ and additional measures of dietary intake. Methods: This prospective cohort study (n = 42) collected dietary information using Diet ID™, the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR), plasma carotenoid concentrations, and the Veggie Meter® to estimate carotenoid levels in the skin. Results: There were significant correlations between Diet ID™ and NDSR for diet quality, calories, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and cholesterol. Vitamin A and carotenoid intake were significantly correlated, with the exception of α-carotene and lycopene. Significant correlations were observed for calcium, folate, iron, sodium, potassium, Vitamins B2, B3, B6, C, and E. Skin carotenoid scores and plasma carotenoids were correlated with carotenoid intake from Diet ID™. Conclusions: Diet ID™ may be a useful tool in nutrition research as a less time-intensive and minimally burdensome dietary data collection method for both participants and researchers.

Evaluation of Modern Approaches for the Assessment of Dietary Carotenoids as Markers for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

“…The current study aimed to explore the suitability of modern, non-invasive methods for carotenoid assessment versus established methods. Good-to-strong correlations between skin carotenoid status measured with reflection and Raman spectroscopy and total carotenoids in plasma were found, which are in line with correlations found in previous studies ranging from r = 0.68 to 0.77 [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Regarding single carotenoids, skin levels showed the highest correlations with plasma levels of β-carotene, α-carotene and lutein/zeaxanthin, whereas plasma β-cryptoxanthin only correlated weakly with skin levels measured with reflection spectroscopy.…”

Methods for Assessing Health Outcomes Associated with Food Insecurity in the United States College Student Population: A Narrative Review

“…In the college student population, research exploring the relationship between FI and dietary intake has only consisted of subjective dietary and beverage assessment methods, such as Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) [ 29 ], National Cancer Institute (NCI) Dietary Screener Questionnaire [ [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] ], Automated Self-Administered 24-h Dietary Assessment Tool [ 56 , 57 ], All Day Fruit and Vegetable Screener [ 34 ], the Food Intention Scale in the FLASHE (Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating) survey [ 53 ], Healthy Eating Index scores [ 52 , 57 ], renditions of a self-reported fruit and vegetable intake questionnaire [ 22 , 36 , 54 , 55 , 58 ], and the Beverage Intake Questionnaire-15 [ 34 , 51 ]. A recent study assessing dietary intake and FI in the college student population used the Nutrition Data System for Research, which is currently referenced as the gold-standard for dietary intake data collection in free-living populations [ 59 , 60 ], but dietary changes resulting from differences by FSS were not reported [ 61 ].…”

Interests, Conflicts, Confluences, and Logic: A “First Principles” Perspective

“…The aversion is so extreme that even disclosing my potential "conflict" and expunging any direct discussion of either my company or our product was not enough; I was expected to avoid mentioning any of the peer-reviewed publications that validate the basic method of our advance. [6][7][8] This, to me, was a bridge too far-and on these 2 occasions, following all the preliminaries culminating in a detailed review of a fully constituted presentation, I was obligated to cancel.…”