Validity and Reproducibility of a Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Macro and Micro-Nutrient Intake among a Convenience Cohort of Healthy Adult Qataris

Abstract

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.

Association between Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Function among Qatari Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Qatar Biobank Study

“…Adapted from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study, this FFQ is yet to be validated in the Qatari population. However, the food items of the questionnaire are comparable to those of a recently validated FFQ in Qatar [ 34 ]. Furthermore, the FFQ was assessed for its internal validity prior to its use in the survey [ 30 ].…”

Knowledge, Awareness, and Practices toward Colorectal Cancer and Its Dietary and Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors among Jordanian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…An online, electronic questionnaire with two domains was used; a pretested one was used to assess the knowledge and awareness of the role of dietary and lifestyle factors in CRC [ 36 ], and another valid questionnaire [ 37 ] was used to assess dietary and lifestyle behaviors; both domains of the questionnaire were pretested before administration pilot testing with 35 students from the same targeted group, and it was edited according to the feedback obtained. The online link was publicly shared on a specialized fakebook page for Jordanian university students with 595,000 members.…”

Rice Intake Is Associated with Longer Reaction Time and Interacts with Blood Lipids and Hypertension among Qatari Adults

“…The FFQ contained 102 food items and was adapted from the European Perspective Investigation into the Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study; however, it has not been validated in Qatar. However, the food items included in the FFQ were similar to a recent validated FFQ in Qatar [ 27 ].…”