Abstract
One of the brief methods enabling the assessment of the zinc intake and identification of individuals characterized by insufficient zinc intake, is zinc-specific food frequency questionnaire. The aim of the study was to assess the validity and reproducibility of the elaborated zinc-specific food frequency questionnaire ZINC-FFQ (Zinc INtake Calculation—Food Frequency Questionnaire) in a group of young Polish female respondents. The validity was assessed in comparison with 3-day dietary records, while reproducibility was assessed for the ZINC-FFQ filled in twice (FFQ1 and FFQ2—six weeks apart). Bland–Altman indexes in the assessment of validity were 5.5% (FFQ1) and 6.7% (FFQ2), while in assessment of reproducibility it was 3.3%. In the assessment of reproducibility, 83% of respondents were classified into the same category of zinc intake adequacy and 72% of respondents were classified into the same tertile, that contributed to weighted κ statistic of 0.65 (substantial agreement). It may be concluded, that ZINC-FFQ is characterized by a validity on a satisfactory and reproducibility on a very good level, in a group of young Polish female respondents, and may be applied to indicate individuals characterized by the risk of insufficient intake.
Highlights
In spite of the fact that severe zinc deficiency is rare, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) [1], mild-to-moderate zinc deficiency is commonly stated throughout the world
That ZINC-FFQ is characterized by a validity on a satisfactory and reproducibility on a very good level, in a group of young Polish female respondents, and may be applied to indicate individuals characterized by the risk of insufficient intake
The zinc delivered during pregnancy results in fetal accumulation and newborn zinc status, as well as zinc intake during lactation results in child zinc status, that was proven in the systematic review and meta-analysis of Petry et al [5] for low-dose of supplementation
Summary
In spite of the fact that severe zinc deficiency is rare, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) [1], mild-to-moderate zinc deficiency is commonly stated throughout the world. The zinc delivered during pregnancy results in fetal accumulation and newborn zinc status, as well as zinc intake during lactation results in child zinc status, that was proven in the systematic review and meta-analysis of Petry et al [5] for low-dose of supplementation. Taking it into account, it must be indicated, that for zinc status in children, the maternal zinc intake, both from diet and supplementation, may be crucial. In the systematic review of Chaffee and King [6], it was indicated, that zinc supplementation in pregnant women may contribute to the reduced risk of the preterm birth, but the currently available information does not support the routine use of zinc supplementation during pregnancy [7], unless emergency supplementation in the low-income countries is needed [8]
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