Dietary quality varies according to data collection instrument: a comparison between a food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour recall.

Paulo Rogério Melo Rodrigues,Camila Pinheiro Coura,Luana Silva Monteiro,Rosangela Alves Pereira,Mara Lima De Cnop,Rita Adriana Gomes De Souza,Alessandra Page Brito

doi:10.1590/0102-311x00047215

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the agreement between the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index - Revised (BHEI-R), estimated by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and multiple 24-hour recalls (24h-R). The Wilcoxon paired test, partial correlations (PC), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altman method were used. The total BHEI-R scores and its components ("total fruits", "whole fruits", "total vegetables", "integral cereals", "saturated fat", "sodium", and "energy intake derived from solid fat, added sugar, and alcoholic beverages") were statistically different, with the ICC and PC indicating poor concordance and correlation. The mean concordance estimated for the total BHEI-R and its components varied from 68% for "integral cereals" to 147% for "whole fruits". The suitable concordance limits were violated for most of the components of the BHEI-R. Poor concordance was observed between the BHEI-R estimated by the FFQ and by multiple 24h-R, which indicated a strong reliability of the BHEI-R on the instrument used to collect information on food consumption.

Highlights

MethodsGiven the complexity of individual food consumption, different methods have been proposed to assess dietary quality, with the aim of providing more efficient analyses of the correlation between diet and health outcomes [1,2,3]
The Brazilian Healthy Eating Index – Revised (BHEI-R) is based on the method proposed by Guenther et al 9 for the Healthy Eating Index 10, which takes into consideration dietary guidelines for Americans in 2005 and emphasizes aspects such as the consumption of whole grains, vegetables, good quality fats, and energy intake derived from solid fat, added sugar, and alcoholic beverages (SoFAS)
The score referring to “total vegetables” and “DGOVL” by multiple 24-hour recall (24h-R) was higher than that by the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)

Summary

Introduction

MethodsGiven the complexity of individual food consumption, different methods have been proposed to assess dietary quality, with the aim of providing more efficient analyses of the correlation between diet and health outcomes [1,2,3]. The Brazilian Healthy Eating Index – Revised (BHEI-R) for the Brazilian population 5 characterizes dietary quality based on components related to food and nutrient groups, considering the recommendations regarding nutritional aspects affording protection against non-communicable chronic diseases. This index was developed according to the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population 6 and the recommendations of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology 7 and U.S Institute of Medicine 8 for saturated fat and sodium consumption, respectively. Andrade et al 11 found that the BHEI-R is a reliable instrument and structurally valid to assess and monitor the quality of Brazilian diets

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Discussion

Conclusion