Validity of a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire for Collegiate Athletes.

Ayaka Sunami,Yuri Yokoyama,Ayumi Nakai,Takahiro Yoshizaki,Kazuto Sasaki,Nobuhide Oguma,Yoshio Suzuki,Yuki Tada,Jun Yasuda,Azumi Hida,Junko Ishihara,Yukari Kawano

doi:10.2188/jea.je20150104

Abstract

BackgroundFood frequency questionnaires (FFQs) have been developed and validated for various populations. To our knowledge, however, no FFQ has been validated for young athletes. Here, we investigated whether an FFQ that was developed and validated to estimate dietary intake in middle-aged persons was also valid for estimating that in young athletes.MethodsWe applied an FFQ that had been developed for the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Cohort Study with modification to the duration of recollection. A total of 156 participants (92 males) completed the FFQ and a 3-day non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recall (24hDR). Validity of the mean estimates was evaluated by calculating the percentage differences between the 24hDR and FFQ. Ranking estimation was validated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (CC), and the degree of miscategorization was determined by joint classification.ResultsThe FFQ underestimated energy intake by approximately 10% for both males and females. For 35 nutrients, the median (range) deattenuated CC was 0.30 (0.10 to 0.57) for males and 0.32 (−0.08 to 0.62) for females. For 19 food groups, the median (range) deattenuated CC was 0.32 (0.17 to 0.72) for males and 0.34 (−0.11 to 0.58) for females. For both nutrient and food group intakes, cross-classification analysis indicated extreme miscategorization rates of 3% to 5%.ConclusionsAn FFQ developed and validated for middle-aged persons had comparable validity among young athletes. This FFQ might be useful for assessing habitual dietary intake in collegiate athletes, especially for calcium, vitamin C, vegetables, fruits, and milk and dairy products.

Highlights

Adequate dietary intake is an important factor in the ability of athletes to maintain an optimum physical condition and train effectively
The dietary record method (DRM) and 24-hour dietary recall (24hDR) are commonly used as reference methods, they place a large burden on participants, and calculating dietary intake is expensive in terms of labor, time, and cost
We investigated whether an Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) that was developed and validated to estimate the dietary intake of middle-aged persons was valid in estimating the intake of young athletes

Summary

Introduction

Adequate dietary intake is an important factor in the ability of athletes to maintain an optimum physical condition and train effectively. We investigated whether an FFQ that was developed and validated to estimate dietary intake in middle-aged persons was valid for estimating that in young athletes. For 19 food groups, the median (range) deattenuated CC was 0.32 (0.17 to 0.72) for males and 0.34 (−0.11 to 0.58) for females For both nutrient and food group intakes, cross-classification analysis indicated extreme miscategorization rates of 3% to 5%. Conclusions: An FFQ developed and validated for middle-aged persons had comparable validity among young athletes. This FFQ might be useful for assessing habitual dietary intake in collegiate athletes, especially for calcium, vitamin C, vegetables, fruits, and milk and dairy products

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion