Reliability and Validity Estimate of the Pro-Inflammatory/Anti-Inflammatory Food Intake Score in South American Pediatric Population: SAYCARE Study.

Abstract

This study aimed to estimate the Pro-inflammatory/Anti-inflammatory Food Intake Score (PAIFIS) in children and adolescents in South America and to test its reliability and validity using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and an inflammatory biomarker. This work consists of a validation study in a sample of children and adolescents conducted in South America (SAYCARE Study). The habitual consumption of food contributing to calculating the PAIFIS was obtained through an FFQ and 24 h Dietary Recall (24HDR). Reliability was tested using the FFQ (FFQ1 × FFQ2), using Spearman's correlation coefficient to estimate the agreement between measurements. The validity of the PAIFIS was tested using 24HDR and the inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP) using Spearman's correlation and multilevel linear regression. For children and adolescents, pro- and anti-inflammatory food groups showed Spearman's correlation coefficients ranging from 0.31 to 0.66, convergent validity ranging from 0.09 to 0.40, and criterion validity for a reliability range from -0.03 to 0.18. The PAIFIS showed Spearman's correlation coefficients for reliability ranging from 0.61 to 0.69, convergent validity from 0.16 to 0.23, and criterion validity from -0.03 to 0.24. The PAIFIS showed acceptable reliability, weak convergent validity, and weak criterion validity in children and adolescents.