Validation of FFQ against Food Records for Vitamin D in Qatar Population

Abstract

Background: Measurement of Vitamin D nutritional status through dietary assessment is a cost effective method. The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is usually validated against food records (FR). There is no Vitamin D specific FFQ for Qatar population Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a Vitamin D centric FFQ and validate FFQ against 3-day FR for Qatar population. Methodology: A quantitative FFQ based on Vitamin D containing foods consumed in Qatar was developed. Vitamin D content of foods were gathered from food labels and food composition tables from the USDA. A Vitamin D content database was developed for this study purpose. Dietary intakes using FFQ and 3-day FR were collected from 62 participants. Vitamin D intakes from FFQ and 3-day FR were validated with quartile comparison and Bland-Altman (BA) tests. Results: BA plot showed an agreement between FFQ and 3-day FR Vitamin D intakes. BA index was 3.23%, which is <5%, a commonly used standard for validation. Quartile correlation showed ≈73% of the subjects were within 1 quartile difference. Conclusion: In conclusion, an agreement was found between Vitamin D intakes from FFQ and 3-day FR. This indicates that the FFQ can be used as a valid dietary method to assess Vitamin D status in Qatar’s population