Validity of the Food Frequency Questionnaire Assessing the Folate Intake in Women of Reproductive Age Living in a Country without Food Fortification: Application of the Method of Triads

Abstract

Abstract:The study aimed to examine the external validity of the Folate Food Frequency Questionnaire (F-FFQ) designed for assessing the folate intake in Serbian women of reproductive age. The F-FFQ was tested against repeated 24 h dietary recalls and correspondent nutritional biomarkers (red blood cells (RBC) and serum folate concentrations) using the method of triads. In a cross sectional study, 503 women aged 18-49 years completed dietary questionnaires and representative validation subsample (n = 50) provided fasting blood samples for biomarker analyses. Correlation coefficients were calculated between each of the dietary methods and three pair-wise correlations were applied for the calculation of validity coefficients. Correlation coefficients observed between F-FFQ and three 24 h recalls were r = 0.56 (p < 0.001) and r = 0.57 (p < 0.001) for total sample and validation group, respectively. Bland-Altman plot and cross-classification analyses indicated good agreement between methods. High validity coefficients were determined between the true intake (I) and dietary assessment methods, F-FFQ (Q) and 24 h dietary recalls (R) (ρQI rbc = 0.871 and ρQI ser = 0.814; ρRI rbc = 0.652 and ρRI ser = 0.698), and moderate ones for biomarkers (B) (ρBI rbc = 0.428 and ρBI ser = 0.421). The F-FFQ is valid instrument for the assessment of dietary folate intake in women living in Serbia, a country without mandatory folic acid food fortification.

Nutritional status and social determinants in a random sample of subjects residing in South-Eastern Serbia: Towards personalized nutrition practice

“…Adult subjects consumed 43.21±6.32% TE from fats, comparable to previously reported data among 87 apparently healthy middle-aged Serbian adults, with mean daily intake of 39.93±6.79% TE from total fats (Pantovic et al, 2018). On the contrary, previously reported data from our group among 503 healthy women, indicate substantially lower mean daily intake of total fats of 28.30±7.21% TE (Zekovic et al, 2017). Herein, we observed no differences (p for trend=0.750) in fat intake, among adult men (42.76±6.82% TE) and women (43.48±6.15% TE).…”

“…Mean daily intake of total protein among adults, men and women in our study was 15.51±3.31% TE, 16.20±4.20% TE and 15.10±2.69% TE, respectively, comparable to previously reported data in 87 apparently healthy Serbian subjects (Pantovic et al, 2018). In 503 Serbian women, intake of proteins was 20.22±3.50% (Zekovic et al, 2017), which was higher comparing to herein analyzed women. Result on the particular intake is inconclusive and Personalized Nutritional Strategy is recommended on individual level to allow for adequate intake.…”

“…The intake was higher in comparison with previous data from Serbian subjects with mean intake of 1983.56± 532.07 kcal (Pantovic et al, 2018). In 503 healthy Serbian women of reproductive age previously reported mean intake was 1724.62±330.02 kcal (Zekovic et al, 2017). Table 2 Total daily energy intake in megajoules in 40 subjects residing in South-Eastern Serbia across gender and age groups Табела 2 Укупан дневни енергетски унос у мегаџулима код 40 испитаника из југоисточне Србије, а према полу и старости Data are presented as Mean±SD.…”

“…We report mean daily intake from total carbohydrates of 41.86±7.42% TE, below previously reported intake among 88 Serbian adults of 44.25 ± 8.12% TE (14 11). In the group of 25 Serbian healthy women, previously reported daily intake of carbohydrates is 54.3± 5.5% TE (Kardum et al, 2014), while in 503 women of reproductive age residing in Serbia, the intake is 50.94±7.23% TE (Zekovic et al, 2017). However, in our study among 35 adults, intake from carbohydrates was not different among men (41.04±7.41% TE) and women (41.42±6.83% TE) (p for trend=0.877).…”

Development and validation of the semi‐quantitative brief food frequency questionnaire to assess the magnesium intake in young women

“…Depending on the aim of the study, various types of FFQs are developed and applied—either un‐quantified ones, where product intakes, but not nutrient intakes, are assessed, or semi‐quantitative and quantitative ones, where nutrient intakes are assessed . Moreover, quantitative questionnaires include both comprehensive ones to assess the intake of many nutrients and brief ones to assess the intake of one nutrient or a few nutrients related to a certain disease . At the same time, brief FFQs are especially valuable, as they are developed to assess the intake of just a few food items and thus significantly reduce the number of questions, which is less than 50…”