Validation of a new questionnaire for assessing habitual intake of starch, non‐starch polysaccharides, sugars and alcohol

Abstract

A newly developed food frequency questionnaire designed to estimate habitual intake of non-starch polysaccharide (NSP), intrinsic and extrinsic sugars, starch and alcohol was compared with 4-d weighed records using the semi-automatic Petra system in 154 subjects, men aged 40-69 years and women aged 25-69 years. There was no statistical difference between the two methods for average intake of NSP (soluble and insoluble) intrinsic sugar and Vitamin C. Where a significant difference did occur, notably in extrinsic sugar and starch, it did not exceed 12%, the food frequency questionnaire giving the higher result. With most food components, 4 5 4 7 % were classified i n the same tertile and only 5 4 % of subjects were classified in opposite tertiles by the two methods. We conclude that this questionnaire is a valid method of assessing habitual intake of these food components in large groups of subjects.

Dietary patterns in pregnancy and respiratory and atopic outcomes in childhood

“…Mothers were asked about their current weekly frequency of consumption of 43 food groups and food items, and about daily consumption of a further eight basic foods. The foods chosen were based on those used by Yarnell et al 30 and modified in the light of a more recent weighed dietary survey 31. Additional questions asked about the types of certain foods used and about the ways in which food was prepared and eaten 32.…”

Diet during pregnancy in a population of pregnant women in South West England

“…A study of middle-aged women in Cambridge found that a food frequency questionnaire misclassi®ed only 2±10% of individuals into opposite quartiles for nutrient intake when compared with the results of a 16-day weighed intake (Bingham et al, 1994). Food frequency questionnaires are also considerably less time-consuming for those administering the surveyÐin the study by Emmett et al, 1992 administration and assessment of the food-frequency questionnaire took up approximately 30 min of the dieticians time, as opposed to 3 h for a 4-day weighed intake. The similarity of the results we have obtained using a food frequency questionnaire to those of the Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults which used a seven-day weighed intake support their validity as an assessment of diet.…”

“…In a study in South West England (Emmett et al, 1992) assessing habitual intake of sugar, non-starch polysaccharide (NSP), starch, vitamin C and carotene using a food-frequency questionnaire and a four-day weighed intake, there was no signi®cant difference between the average calculated nutrient intakes for NSP, intrinsic sugar and starch, and the differences in the calculated intakes of the other nutrients did not exceed 12%. A study of middle-aged women in Cambridge found that a food frequency questionnaire misclassi®ed only 2±10% of individuals into opposite quartiles for nutrient intake when compared with the results of a 16-day weighed intake (Bingham et al, 1994).…”

“…Diet was assessed by an unquanti®ed food frequency questionnaire included within this, covering all the main foods consumed in Britain. The foods chosen for the questionnaire were based on those used by Yarnell et al, 1983 in South Wales and modi®ed in the light of a more recent weighed dietary survey carried out by one of the authors on adults in Avon (Emmett et al, 1992). This included questions about the weekly frequency of consumption of 43 food groups and food items, the respondents were asked to tick one of the following optionsÐnever or rarely, once in 2 weeks, 1±3 times a week, 4±7 times a week, more than once a day.…”

Maternal diet in pregnancy and offspring height, sitting height, and leg length

“…25 Mothers were asked how often they were currently eating each type of food, and from this, nutrient intakes based on standard sized portions were estimated using the 5th edition of McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods and its supplements. [26][27][28][29][30][31][32] A full description of the methods used is given elsewhere.…”