Validity and Reproducibility of a Culture-Specific Food Frequency Questionnaire in Lebanon

Abstract

This study aims to assess the validity and reproducibility of a culture-specific semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Lebanese adults. The 94-item FFQ captures intake of traditional Mediterranean dishes and Western food, reflective of current Lebanese nutrition transition. Among 107 participants (18–65 years), the FFQ was administered at baseline (FFQ-1) and one year thereafter (FFQ-2); 2–3 24-h recalls (24-HRs)/season were collected for a total of 8–12 over four seasons. A subset (n = 67) provided a fasting blood sample in the fall. Spearman-correlation coefficients, Bland–Altman plots, joint-classification and (ICC) were calculated. Mean intakes from FFQ-2 were higher than from the total 24-HRs. Correlations for diet from FFQ-2 and 24-HRs ranged from 0.17 for α-carotene to 0.65 for energy. Joint classification in the same/adjacent quartile ranged from 74.8% to 95%. FFQ-2-plasma carotenoid correlations ranged from 0.18 for lutein/zeaxanthin to 0.59 for β-carotene. Intra-class correlations for FFQ-1 and FFQ-2 ranged from 0.36 for β-cryptoxanthin to 0.85 for energy. 24-HRs carotenoid intake varied by season; combining season-specific 24-HRs proximal to biospecimen collection to the FFQ-2 improved diet-biochemical correlations. By applying dietary data from two tools with biomarkers taking into consideration seasonal variation, we report a valid, reproducible Lebanese FFQ for use in diet-disease research.

Impact of Ramadan Fasting on Dietary Intakes Among Healthy Adults: A Year-Round Comparative Study

“…Data for this study were derived from an earlier prospective investigation of dietary intake among Lebanese adults (18-65 years), the details of which are published elsewhere (44). In brief, subjects were recruited from the American University of Beirut (AUB), the largest employer in the Lebanese private sector (45,46).…”

Food insecurity, low dietary diversity and poor mental health among Syrian refugee mothers living in vulnerable areas of Greater Beirut, Lebanon

“…The five-step multiple-pass 24-h dietary recall method was used to assess the dietary intake during the previous day, which included the following steps: (1) start with a quick uninterrupted listing of foods by the interviewee, (2) probe for forgotten foods list, (3) collect the time and occasion, (4) gather a comprehensive description of foods and amounts eaten in the detailed cycle and (5) end with a final probe review (48,49) . Furthermore, a ninety-four-item semiquantitative context-specific FFQ, validated among adults in Lebanon (50) , was used to assess the dietary intake of mothers over the past 12 months. Dietary data stemming from the FFQ were combined into numerous food groups and subgroups in order to examine their contribution to the percentage energy intake (% EI).…”

Validity and reliability of a food frequency questionnaire for community dwelling older adults in a Mediterranean country: Lebanon

“…Questionnaires used to evaluate food intake of older adults is scarce, particularly in the East Mediterranean region. In neighboring countries and in Lebanon, other questionnaires were used to estimate food and nutrient intake in adult population, but so far, no FFQ was validated exclusively among Lebanese older adults [ 11 , 19 – 24 ].…”