Relative validation of a food frequency questionnaire to estimate food intake in an adult population

Nina Steinemann, Leticia Grize, Katrin Ziesemer, Peter Kauf, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Christine Brombach, Nina Steinemann, Leticia Grize, Katrin Ziesemer, Peter Kauf, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Christine Brombach

Abstract

Background: Scientifically valid descriptions of dietary intake at population level are crucial for investigating diet effects on health and disease. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are the most common dietary tools used in large epidemiological studies. Objective: To examine the relative validity of a newly developed FFQ to be used as dietary assessment tool in epidemiological studies. Design: Validity was evaluated by comparing the FFQ and a 4-day weighed food record (4-d FR) at nutrient and food group levels, Spearman's correlations, Bland-Altman analysis and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used. Fifty-six participants completed a paper format FFQ and a 4-d FR within 4 weeks. Results: Corrected correlations between the two instruments ranged from 0.27 (carbohydrates) to 0.55 (protein), and at food group level from 0.09 (soup) to 0.92 (alcohol). Nine out of 25 food groups showed correlations > 0.5, indicating moderate validity. More than half the food groups were overestimated in the FFQ, especially vegetables (82.8%) and fruits (56.3%). Water, tea and coffee were underestimated (-14.0%). Conclusions: The FFQ showed moderate relative validity for protein and the food groups fruits, egg, meat, sausage, nuts, salty snacks and beverages. This study supports the use of the FFQ as an acceptable tool for assessing nutrition as a health determinant in large epidemiological studies.

Keywords: Food frequency questionnaire; dietary assessment; epidemiological studies; food group intake; nutrient intake; validation study; weighed food record.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Bland–Altman plot of the energy intake as computed from 4-day weighed food record (4-d FR) and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) reports. (Calculated for the whole sample, but different symbols label values for male and female participants.)
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Participants’ relative differences in the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the 4-day weighed food record (4-d FR) for each food group. The dashed line gives the zero difference between the medians of the two instruments. The unsystematic reporting difference between the two instruments is shown as the spread of the distributions indicated by the width of the boxes and the range of the whiskers.

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