Assessing Dietary Intake of Selected Food Components Using Short Questionnaires (NutriPlant/FFQ)

Validation of Short Questionnaires for Assessing Dietary Intake of Selected Food Components

The aim of the study is to validate short questionnaires for assessing dietary intake of selected food components, with a focus on dietary fibre and iron. Two internationally developed short questionnaires (FiberScreen [for dietary fibre] and IRONQ-FFQ [for iron]) were adapted to the Slovenian context and will be compared with the standard 24-hour dietary recall method.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Iron-deficiency; Nutritional Status; Diet
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Screening questionnaire; Diagnostic test: 5d-PD: Nutritional intakes using 24-h food recalls; Diagnostic test: KV-PV: Dietary fibre intake; Diagnostic test: KV-Fe: Iron intake; Diagnostic test: Blood biomarkets

Detailed Description

Based on previous research conducted in Slovenia and across Europe, it can be concluded that notable proportion of the Slovenian population does not meet the recommended intake of dietary fibre. At the same time, there are important population groups at increased risk of inadequate iron intake, particularly women of reproductive age. Both nutrients have significant implications for health and represent an important public health challenge that requires appropriate monitoring of dietary intake at the population level.

With the aim of providing a simple and reliable assessment of dietary fibre and iron intake in research, clinical, and public health settings, two short questionnaires adapted to the Slovenian context have been developed. The questionnaire for assessing dietary fibre intake (KV-PV) is based on the FiberScreen questionnaire developed by Dutch researchers and was adapted to the Slovenian dietary pattern using data from the SI.Menu study. The questionnaire for assessing iron intake (KV-Fe) is based on the validated IRONQ-FFQ and adapted for the Slovenian population.

Despite the content adaptation of both questionnaires to the Slovenian context, further validation is required before their practical application, in order to assess the reliability and usability of these tools for evaluating dietary fibre and iron intake in Slovenia.

The objectives of the project are to:

Determine dietary fibre intake as assessed by the KV-PV questionnaire. Determine iron intake as assessed by the KV-Fe questionnaire. Determine dietary fibre intake using a 5-day dietary record. Determine iron intake using a 5-day dietary record. Compare dietary fibre intake assessed by the KV-PV questionnaire with the 5-day dietary record and evaluate the reliability of the KV-PV.

Compare iron intake assessed by the KV-Fe questionnaire with the 5-day dietary record and evaluate the reliability of the KV-Fe.

Compare the results of two KV-PV questionnaires completed with a 6-week interval.

Compare the results of two KV-Fe questionnaires completed with a 6-week interval.

Examine potential correlations between the results of the tested questionnaires and selected biochemical indicators in participants who voluntarily opt for blood sampling.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 50

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Maša Hribar, PhD; Phone Number: +386 590 68870; Email: masa.hribar@nutris.org
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Liza Mohoric

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

About 50 subjects, aged 18-65 years, with expected drop-out rate about 10%. Invitations through institute web page and social media.

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• Willingness to participate in the study.
• Signed Statement of Informed and Voluntary Consent to Participate in the Study.
• Age between 18 and 65 years at the time of enrolment in the study.
• Willingness to comply with all study procedures and to keep a dietary record in accordance with the provided instructions.

Exclusion criteria:

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Specific dietary practices followed by a small proportion of the population (veganism, LCHF, calorie-restricted diets; note: vegetarians are not excluded).
• Diets prescribed by medical professionals.
• Mental incapacity that prevents adequate understanding or participation.

Reasons for excluding a participant during the study:

• Inability to participate in the study
• Wishes to discontinue participation
• Incomplete data provided

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Study sample; Adults (18-65 years)

Diagnostic test: Screening questionnaire; Screening questionnaire: assessment of socio-demographic parameters, use of food supplements, health status, dietary habits; Diagnostic test: 5d-PD: Nutritional intakes using 24-h food recalls; Assessment of food intake (5x 24-h dietary recalls) and estimation of nutritional intakes; Diagnostic test: KV-PV: Dietary fibre intake; Dietary fibe intake assessed using KV-PV (Short questionnaire for the assessment of dietary fibre intake); Diagnostic test: KV-Fe: Iron intake; Iron intake using KV-Fe (Short questionnaire for the assessment of iron intake); Diagnostic test: Blood biomarkets; Subjects we be provided with option for laboratory assessment of iron status (ferritin, serum iron, and hemoglobin) and a basic lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Nutritional intake using 24-h food recalls (5d-PD)	Nutritional intake will be estimated using 24-h food recalls for 5 days (5d-PD)	1 week
Dietary fibre intake (KV-PV)	Dietary fibe intake will be assessed using KV-PV (Short questionnaire for the assessment of dietary fibre intake) in beginning of the study and after about 6 weeks.	6 weeks
Iron intake (KV-Fe)	Iron intake will be assesed using KV-Fe (Short questionnaire for the assessment of iron intake) n beginning of the study and after about 6 weeks.	6 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Laboratory assessment of iron status: S-ferritin	Laboratory assessment of iron status using blood analyses	once during 6 weeks of the study
Laboratory assessment of iron status: S-iron	Laboratory assessment of iron status using blood analyses	once during 6 weeks of the study
Laboratory assessment of iron status: hemoglobin	Laboratory assessment of iron status using blood analyses	once during 6 weeks of the study
Laboratory assessment of blood lipids: total cholesterol	laboratory assessment of lipid profile using blood analyses	once during 6 weeks of the study
Laboratory assessment of blood lipids: HDL cholesterol	laboratory assessment of lipid profile using blood analyses	once during 6 weeks of the study
Laboratory assessment of blood lipids: LDL cholesterol	laboratory assessment of lipid profile using blood analyses	once during 6 weeks of the study
Laboratory assessment of blood lipids: triglycerides	laboratory assessment of lipid profile using blood analyses	once during 6 weeks of the study

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Institute of Nutrition, Slovenia (Nutris)
• Investigators: Study Chair: Igor Pravst, PhD, Institute of Nutrition, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 9, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 2, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: nutritional status; micronutrients; iron; dietary intake; ffq; food recall
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Metabolic Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Anemia; Iron Metabolism Disorders; Anemia, Hypochromic; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Iron Deficiencies; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
• Other Study ID Numbers: KEP-5-13/2025; L7-50154 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food); J3-70143 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Slovenian Research And Innovation Agency); P3-0395 (Other Identifier: Slovenian Research And Innovation Agency)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No