Reproducibility Of Food Frequency Questionnaire Research Articles

Diabetes Risk Reduction Diet and Colorectal Cancer Risk.

Diabetes has been associated with colorectal cancer. We evaluated whether adherence to a diabetes risk reduction diet (DRRD) can favorably influence the risk of colorectal cancer. Data came from a multicentric Italian case-control study including 1,953 histologically confirmed colorectal cancer cases and 4,154 hospital controls admitted for acute nonneoplastic diseases. Diet was assessed through a validated and reproducible food frequency questionnaire. The DRRD score was computed assigning higher values for higher consumption of cereal fiber, fruit, coffee, nuts and a higher polyunsaturated/saturated fats ratio and for lower glycemic index and lower consumption of red/processed meat and sweetened beverages and fruit juices. The ORs and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of colorectal cancer according to the DRRD score were obtained using logistic regression models adjusting for total energy intake and other major confounders. The DRRD was inversely related to colorectal cancer risk. The ORs of colorectal cancer were 0.77 (95% CI, 0.67-0.89) for the third versus first score tertile (Ptrend < 0.001) and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.87-0.96) for a 3-point increment in the score. Inverse associations were observed for colon and rectal cancers and were consistent in strata of sex, age, and other major covariates. A higher adherence to a DRRD was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk. Given the high incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer, adherence to a DRRD can have relevant prevention and public health implications.

Dietary patterns associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer: Case-control study findings.

Diet is an important modifiable lifestyle factor, but epidemiological studies evaluating the association between dietary patterns and pancreatic cancer (PC) have reported inconsistent findings. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of several dietary choices on the risk of PC among newly diagnosed Jordanian patients. A case-control study was conducted at major teaching and general hospitals, including a Jordanian oncology center. The study included 101 patients with incident pancreatic cancer and 314 controls. Data was collected using interview-based questionnaires. Dietary intake was estimated using a validated Arabic and reproducible food-frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were derived using Principal Component Analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the association between dietary patterns and PC. Four dietary patterns were identified. The "Traditional" dietary pattern, which presented a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, and lentils, was associated with a significant decrease in the odds of PC (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.21-0.84) for the third quartile compared to first one. The "High-fruit" dietary pattern, which was loaded with strawberry, melon, watermelon, and other fruits, significantly reduced the odds of PC (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.19-0.75) for the second quartile compared to the first one. The "Soup" dietary pattern was mainly composed of vermicelli soup, vegetable soup, lentil soup, and mushroom soup, which decreased the odds of PC (OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.07-0.38). There was no relation between PC and the "Western" dietary pattern, loaded with beer, wine, roasted lamb, meat, chicken sandwich, beefsteak, and fried fish. The "Traditional," "High-fruit," and "Soup" dietary patterns were associated with reduced risk of PC among Jordanians.

Flavonoid Intake in Relation to Colorectal Cancer Risk and Blood Bacterial DNA.

Flavonoids have been inversely associated to colorectal cancer (CRC) and are plausible intermediaries for the relation among gut microbiome, intestinal permeability and CRC. We analyzed the relation of flavonoid intake with CRC and blood bacterial DNA. We conducted a case-control study in Italy involving 100 incident CRC cases and 200 controls. A valid and reproducible food-frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary habits and to estimate six flavonoid subclass intakes. We applied qPCR and 16S rRNA gene profiling to assess blood bacterial DNA. We used multiple logistic regression to derive odds ratios (ORs) of CRC and Mann-Whitney and chi--square tests to evaluate abundance and prevalence of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) according to flavonoid intakes. Inverse associations with CRC were found for anthocyanidins (OR for the highest versus the lowest tertile = 0.24, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.11-0.52) and flavanones (OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.08-0.42). We found different abundance and prevalence according to anthocyanidin and flavanone intake for OTUs referring to Oligoflexales order, Diplorickettsiaceae family, Staphylococcus, Brevundimonas, Pelomonas and Escherischia-Shigella genera, and Flavobacterium and Legionella species. The study provides evidence to a protective effect of dietary anthocyanidins and flavanones on CRC and suggests an influence of flavonoids on blood bacterial DNA, possibly through intestinal permeability changes.

Validity and Reproducibility of FFQ in Measuring Food and Food Group Intakes

Abstract Objectives We evaluated the validity and reproducibility of a 149-item semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) in measuring food and food group intakes among 736 participants of the Women's Lifestyle Validation Study (WLVS) and 649 participants of the Men's Lifestyle Validation Study (MLVS). Methods The WLVS was conducted among a subset of the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHSII participants aged 45–80 years in 2010. Participants of the MLVS aged 46–82 years between 2011 and 2013 were recruited from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and members of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. We matched 10,128 foods with unique food codes collected from the 7-day dietary records (7DDRs) to the 149 foods listed on the FFQ based on the similarity of food descriptions. After the matching, we converted gram intakes of the 7DDR-measured foods into servings using the amounts specified on the FFQ. Food group intakes were calculated as the sum of the individual component foods in servings. Validity of the FFQ compared to repeated 7DDRs measured six months apart and the reproducibility between two FFQs administered one year apart were assessed using Spearman correlations. Results Foods generally considered to be healthy were often overreported through FFQs, while those perceived unhealthy were underreported. The average 1-year reproducibility of all foods listed on the FFQ was 0.64 in both the WLVS and MLVS. Reproducibility of the food groups (mean: 0.70 among women and 0.71 among men) was generally higher than that for individual foods. Among women, the average validity correlation for individual foods was 0.59 when comparing the FFQ completed at the end of the 1-year study period with the 7DDRs and correcting for within-person variations in 7DDRs. Among men, the corresponding average validity correlation was 0.61. Food groups assessed by the FFQ had slightly higher validity correlations than did individual foods in both women (range: 0.44–0.92, mean: 0.61) and men (0.46–0.88, mean: 0.64). Conclusions This study reaffirms that the FFQ performs well in measuring foods and food groups and provides the data enabling investigators to adjust for measurement error in epidemiologic studies of foods and food groups in relation to health outcomes. Funding Sources The Women's Lifestyle Validation Study and Men's Lifestyle Validation Study were funded by National Cancer Institute.

Mediterranean Dietary Pattern is Associated with Lower Odds of Gastric Cancer: A Case-Control Study.

BackgroundDiet pattern is an important modifiable lifestyle factor. However, epidemiological studies show that the association between dietary patterns and gastric cancer (GC) is conflicting. This study aims to assess the impact of several dietary choices on the risk of GC among newly diagnosed Jordanian patients.MethodsA case–control study was conducted at major oncology centers and hospitals in Jordan. Study participants included 172 patients with incident gastric cancer and 314 controls. Data was collected using interview-based questionnaires. Dietary intake was estimated using a validated Arabic and reproducible food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary patterns were derived using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the association between dietary patterns and GC.ResultsFour dietary patterns were itemized; “Mediterranean”, “Prudent”, “Unhealthy” and “High-fruit” dietary patterns. The “Mediterranean” dietary pattern, which includes a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, lentils, and olive oil was associated with a significant decrease in the odds ratio (OR) of GC for the third and fourth quartiles (OR, 0.394 (confidence interval (CI): 0.211–0.736); 0.212 (CI: 0.107–0.419), respectively) after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, marital status, total energy intake, education level, and physical activity. While the “Unhealthy” and “Prudent” dietary patterns enhance the risk of developing GC, this risk was insignificant at any quartile. Additionally, the “High-Fruit” dietary pattern shows an insignificant protective effect against the risk of GC.ConclusionThe “Mediterranean” dietary pattern was associated with a reduced risk of GC among Jordanians. However, the other three identified dietary patterns were not significantly associated with the risk of GC.

Diabetes risk reduction diet and the risk of pancreatic cancer.

To evaluate the role of a diabetes risk reduction diet (DRRD) on pancreatic cancer risk. We used data from a hospital-based case-control study conducted in Italy between 1991 and 2008; the study included 326 incident pancreatic cancer cases and 652 controls matched by age, gender and study center. Subjects' usual diet was collected through a valid and reproducible food frequency questionnaire. A DRRD score was derived from 8 dietary components: cereal fiber, total fruit, coffee, polyunsaturated to saturated fats ratio and nuts (higher score for higher intake), and dietary glycemic index, red/processed meat and sugar-sweetened beverages/fruit juices (higher score for lower intake). The score ranged 8-37, with higher values indicating greater DRRD adherence. Odds ratios (ORs) of pancreatic cancer according to the DRRD score were estimated using multiple conditional logistic regression models. After allowance for confounding factors, the DRRD score was inversely related to pancreatic cancer risk, with ORs of 0.55 (95% confidence interval, CI 0.38-0.80) for the highest versus the lowest score tertile (p for trend across tertiles = 0.002) and 0.84 (95% CI 0.75-0.95) for a 3-point score increment. The exclusion of diabetic subjects and additional adjustment for vegetable intake did not change the results. Inverse associations were observed in subgroups defined by age, gender, education, body mass index, smoking and total energy intake. Study findings suggest a protective role of high adherence to a DRRD on pancreatic cancer risk.

Reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire: Korea Nurses' Health Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESThis study aimed to examine the reproducibility of food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) designed for young female nurses in the Korea Nurses' Health Study.SUBJECTS/METHODSThe reproducibility of web-based, self-administered FFQs was evaluated among 243 Korean female nurses. The first FFQ (FFQ1) was administered from March 2014 to February 2019 and the second FFQ (FFQ2) from November 2019, with a mean interval of 2.8 years between the FFQs (range, 9 months–5.6 years). Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients (r values) and quartile agreements between FFQ1 and FFQ2 were calculated for intakes of energy, nutrients, and foods.RESULTSPearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0.41 to 0.55 (median r = 0.51) for energy and raw nutrients and from 0.16 to 0.46 (median r = 0.36) for energy-adjusted nutrients. Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.25 to 0.72 (median r = 0.41) for food items. The percentages of women who were classified into the same or adjacent quartile were 77% to 84% (median = 82%) for raw nutrients and 69% to 86% (median = 78%) for foods.CONCLUSIONSThe results indicated that the web-based FFQ used in the Korea Nurses' Health Study has acceptable reproducibility.

The Cancer Prevention Study-3 FFQ Is a Reliable and Valid Measure of Nutrient Intakes among Racial/Ethnic Subgroups, Compared with 24-Hour Recalls and Biomarkers

BackgroundValid assessment of dietary intake in diverse populations is important for studies of chronic disease risk in the United States. ObjectivesWe evaluated the reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) modified for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) prospective cohort, among a racially/ethnically diverse subgroup. MethodsThe Diet Assessment Substudy included 677 CPS-3 participants (64% women; 61% non-Hispanic white, 24% non-Hispanic black, 15% Hispanic), aged 31–70 y, who completed 2 FFQs 1 y apart (FFQ1, FFQ2), 4–6 telephone-administered 24-h dietary recalls (24HRs), and 2 fasting blood samples and 24-h urine collections ∼6 mo apart in the interim. Spearman rank correlation coefficients (ρ) were used to evaluate FFQ reproducibility and validity compared with 24HRs for 67 nutrient exposures. For 18 of these nutrients, we used the method of triads to calculate validity coefficients (VCs, ρ) from pairwise correlations of FFQ2, 24HRs, and biomarkers. Analyses were stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, education, and BMI. ResultsMean (range) FFQ reproducibility correlations were ρ = 0.65 (0.50–0.91) for men and ρ = 0.63 (0.37–0.89) for women; mean (range) energy-adjusted, deattenuated correlations of FFQ2 with 24HRs were ρ = 0.60 (0.33–0.84) for men and ρ = 0.55 (0.21–0.79) for women. FFQ2 VCs (ρ) among men ranged from 0.42 for β-cryptoxanthin to 0.91 for omega-3 (n–3) fatty acids and, among women, from 0.41 for sodium to 0.79 for total vitamin D. Mean FFQ reproducibility and validity were highest among whites (ρ = 0.68, ρ = 0.58, respectively) and slightly lower among blacks (ρ = 0.57, ρ = 0.49, respectively) and Hispanics (ρ = 0.59, 0.55, respectively). FFQ reproducibility and validity were slightly lower among those with less than a 4-y college degree, and those with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2. ConclusionsReproducibility and validity of the CPS-3 FFQ were comparable with similar studies for most nutrients, among all subgroups. These findings support future dietary analyses in the contemporary CPS-3 cohort and other similar cohorts.

Developed and validated food frequency questionnaires in Iran: A systematic literature review.

Background:Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are inexpensive, easy to administer, and practical tools for dietary assessment in epidemiological studies. Several studies have investigated the validity and reproducibility of FFQs for the Iranian population. This systematic review aimed to assess the developed and validated FFQs for use in the Iranian population and compare their features and the validation studies in this regard. Materials and Methods:A comprehensive search was conducted in ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Scopus, and Iranian databases without time constraints to retrieve the relevant English and non-English publications. Studies would be included if they were focused on the design and validation of FFQs in Iran. Results:In total, 782 articles were found, 22 of which met the eligibility criteria and evaluated 18 FFQs. Validation studies had been conducted on 18 out of 20 FFQs. The median of the correlation coefficients for the comparison of the FFQ intakes and the dietary reference method by nutrients varied within the range of 0.19–0.65, indicating reasonable validity. The median of the correlation coefficients for the comparison of two FFQs by nutrients was 0.28–0.85, showing appropriate reproducibility. However, low validity was observed in some nutrients and food groups, such as egg, legumes, iron, folate, and α-tocopherol. In seven studies, biomarkers were used for the assessment of nutrient intake using an FFQ with the median correlation coefficient of −0.07–0.42. In addition, the quality of methodology was evaluated in the FFQ validation studies, with 18 out of 20 studies reporting good and excellent quality.Conclusion:Although the FFQs used to assess the dietary intake of the Iranian population have different features, they have acceptable validity and reproducibility. Nevertheless, some food groups and nutrients have poor validity and must be considered attentively.

Development, validity and reproducibility of a whole grain food frequency questionnaire in Malaysian children

BackgroundTo date, there is no validated whole grain assessment tool for children in any Southeast Asian countries. Hence, there is a need for a valid tool to assess whole grain intake among Malaysian children. This study aimed to develop, validate and test the reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in estimating whole grain intake among Malaysian children.MethodsA total of 392 children participated in the FFQ development and 112 children aged 9–12 years participated in the validation phase; with a subsample of 50 children participating in the reproducibility phase. Three-day diet record (3DR) as the reference method in validation phase. Spearman correlations, mean difference, Bland-Altman plot and cross-classification analyses were used to assess validity. The reproducibility was tested through a repeat administration of the FFQ, with 1 month time interval. Reproducibility analyses involved intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Cronbach’s alpha and cross-classification analyses.ResultsThe FFQ consisted of 156 whole grain food items from six food groups. Mean intake of whole grain in FFQ1 and 3DR were correlated well (r = 0.732), demonstrated good acceptance of the FFQ. Bland Altman plots showed relatively good agreement for both the dietary methods. Cross-classification of whole grain intake between the two methods showed that < 9.9% of children were grossly misclassified. Outcomes from ICC (0.989) and Cronbach’s alpha (0.995) demonstrated excellent reliability. All the children were classified in the same or adjacent quartile of whole grain intake.ConclusionsOverall, the findings support the validity of the developed FFQ to appropriately estimate the whole grain intake in Malaysian children. This validated FFQ will be a valuable tool for future studies, to analyses the impact of whole grain consumption with disease relationship among Malaysian schoolchildren.

Relative Validity and Reproducibility of a Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Food Group Intake in Pregnant Jordanian Women

BackgroundResearch on the relationship between maternal diet and pregnancy outcomes requires valid dietary assessment tools in pregnancy. ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and examine the relative validity and reproducibility of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to estimate food group intake in a sample of pregnant Jordanian women. DesignIn this validation study, food group intake from a culturally sensitive quantitative FFQ was compared with food group intake from three 24-hour dietary recalls. Participants and settingThe validation study was conducted from 2015 to 2017 at the maternity clinics in Jordan University Hospital among 131 healthy singleton pregnant Jordanian women. Of these women, 30 also took part in the reproducibility phase, which involved repeated completion of the FFQ in a time frame of 1 month. Pregnant women who had gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and chronic diseases were excluded. Main outcome measuresRelative validity and reproducibility of a 117-item quantitative FFQ used to estimate usual food intake over a period of 1 month. Statistical analyses performedIntraclass correlation coefficients and weighted κ statistics were calculated to test the reproducibility between the two administrations of the FFQ. Pearson correlations were estimated to validate the FFQ against 24-hour dietary recalls. Cross-classification and Bland-Altman plots were used to examine the agreement between the two dietary assessment methods. ResultsThe intraclass correlation coefficients between the two FFQs ranged from 0.24 for legumes to 0.93 for processed meats. A moderate level of agreement was observed between two FFQs. De-attenuated and energy-adjusted correlations ranged from 0.08 for sweets and sugar to 0.93 for sugary drinks. On average, 50.9% and 45.2% of participants were classified by the FFQ and the 24-hour dietary recalls into the same quartile based on their crude and energy-adjusted food group intake, respectively. Bland-Altman plots showed satisfactory agreement between two methods for most food groups. ConclusionsThe FFQ showed moderate reproducibility and good relative validity for most food groups.

Validity and Reproducibility of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Estimating Macro- and Micronutrient Intakes Among Pregnant Women in Jordan

Objectives: Assessing the relationship between maternal diet and pregnancy outcomes is a crucial issue that requires valid dietary assessment tools in this critical period. This study aimed to develop and assess the validity and reproducibility of a culture-specific quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) to evaluate the dietary intake of macro- and micronutrients from food in a sample of Jordanian pregnant women.Methods: A QFFQ was validated against three repeated 24-hour dietary recalls (24-hr recalls). The QFFQ was administered twice one month apart. A total of 131 Jordanian pregnant women participated in the validation study. Thirty women took part in the reproducibility phase, which was repeated in a time frame of one month.Results: The intra-class correlation coefficients of QFFQ1 and QFFQ2 for energy were 0.79 and for macronutrients ranged from −0.27 for insoluble fiber to 0.81 for dietary fiber, indicating adequate (0.51) reproducibility. The intra-class correlation coefficients between two QFFQs for micronutrients ranged from 0.19 for selenium to 0.85 for vitamin C. The average of correlation coefficient was 0.58 for micronutrients. Energy-adjusted and de-attenuated Pearson correlation coefficients between QFFQ1 and 24-hr dietary recall for macronutrients ranged from 0.13 for soluble fiber and trans fat to 0.90 for cholesterol and for micronutrients from 0.01 for sodium to 0.78 for magnesium.Conclusions: The newly developed QFFQ could facilitate the assessment of the nutrient intake among Jordanian pregnant women. Using this QFFQ will help in evaluating the nutritional status of pregnant women, aiming at improving maternal and newborn health.

Development of Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for the assessment of dietary intake among overweight and obese Saudi young children

BackgroundFood Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is an effective tool for nutritional status assessment. This study had two objectives: (1) to develop a FFQ for habitual dietary intake assessment of children and adolescents with overweight or obesity and (2) to evaluate the reproducibility of this FFQ.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in the Obesity Clinics at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A final sample of 236 children and adolescents (115/121: M/F; age 6–17 years) was used after they provided a written consent. Their anthropometrics were measured and they completed a a 3-day food record (3DFR) questionnaire. We constructed a comprehensive food list based on the most commonly reported food items and portion size reported in 3DFR. This food list was converted to FFQ format using the typically reported portions. FFQ was reduced and developed into final form. The newly developed 74-item FFQ was administered twice over a 4-week period. Reproducibility was explored by comparing the nutrients and food intakes of FFQ1 and FFQ2. All statistical analyses were done on SPSS (version 18.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).ResultsThe newly developed FFQ had 74 food items distributed in 7 food groups. A satisfactory reproducibility of FFQ was achieved. The average correlation coefficients of nutrients and food groups were 0.46 and 0.49, respectively. The average % agreement of nutrients and food groups were 70.1 and 70.9%, respectively.ConclusionThe newly developed FFQ had 74 food items broadly categorized in 7 food groups and yielded satisfactory reproducibility. We conclude the newly developed FFQ may be a useful tool for further research for dietary assessment of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia.

Reproducible and reliable general semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire for evaluating iodine intake in Chinese children

Iodine deficiency is a global issue that is correlated with a variety of diseases and can affect individuals of all ages. We hypothesized that a general, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) could be a valuable tool to evaluate iodine intake in children. Study participants comprised 687 healthy children between the ages of 7 and 13 years. The FFQ was developed to assess habitual iodine intake over a 6-month period (FFQ1). A 3-day estimated food diary (3DEFD) and the habitual daily iodine intake, calculated from 2-repeated 24-hour urine iodine excretion, tested the intermethod relative validity of the FFQ. There were 92 children who also repeated the FFQ (FFQ2) 3 weeks later to assess for FFQ reproducibility. Iodine intake estimated by FFQ1 + water was significantly higher than that indicated by the 3DEFD + water (204 μg/d vs 156 μg/d, P < .001), whereas there were no differences between habitual daily iodine intake and FFQ1 + water (185 μg/d vs 204 μg/d, P = .223). The interclass correlation coefficients of iodine intake estimated by the FFQ1 and FFQ2 were 0.72 (P < .001). The FFQ1 + water was moderately correlated with the 3DEFD + water (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.57, P < .001) as well as habitual daily iodine intake (SCC = 0.34, P < .001). The subjects classified into the same or adjacent quartiles ranged from 32% to 93%. The κ value α was 0.46 for FFQ1 and FFQ2 (P < .001) 0.27 for FFQ1 + water and 3DEFD + water (P < .001), and 0.09 for FFQ1 + water and habitual daily iodine intake (P < .001). The results showed this FFQ is a reliable and reproducible tool in evaluating iodine intake in Chinese children.

Development and relative validation of a food frequency questionnaire for French-Canadian adolescent and young adult survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BackgroundSurvivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (cALL) experience cardiometabolic and bone complications after treatments. This study aimed at developing and validating an interview-administrated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that will serve to estimate the impact of nutrition in the development of long-term sequalea of French-Canadian cALL survivors.MethodsThe FFQ was developed to assess habitual diet, Mediterranean diet score, nutrients promoting bone health and antioxidants. It was validated using a 3-day food record (3-DFR) in 80 cALL survivors (50% male) aged between 11.4 and 40.1 years (median of 18.0 years). Reproducibility was evaluated by comparing FFQs from visit 1 and 2 in 29 cALL survivors.ResultsWhen compared to 3-DFR, the mean values for macro- and micronutrient intake were overestimated by our FFQ with the exception of lipid-related nutrients. Correlations between nutrient intakes derived from the FFQs and the 3-DFRs showed moderate to very good correlations (0.46–0.74). Intraclass correlation coefficients assessing FFQ reproducibility ranged from 0.62 to 0.92, indicating moderate to good reliability. Furthermore, classification into quartiles showed more than 75% of macro- and micronutrients derived from FFQs 1 and 2 classified into the same or adjacent quartile.ConclusionsOverall, our results support the reproducibility and accuracy of the developed FFQ to appropriately classify individuals according to their dietary intake. This validated tool will be valuable for future studies analyzing the impact of nutrition on cardiometabolic and bone complications in French-speaking populations.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and food intake

Objective: To verify if specific foods and nutrients could be risk factors or protective factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed ALS from three Italian administrative regions were included. For each patient, a healthy control, matched for age (±5 years), sex and administrative region of residence, was selected by a general practitioner. Cases and controls were interviewed by a trained investigator who filled a validated and reproducible food-frequency questionnaire. Daily intake of macronutrients, micronutrients, fatty acids, and total energy were estimated using an Italian food composition database. Results: Two hundred and twelve cases and 212 controls were included. A risk reduction was found for coffee and tea (odds ratios (OR) = 0.29, 95% CI 0.14–0.60), whole bread (OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.31–0.99), raw vegetables (OR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.13–0.52) and citrus fruits (OR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.25–0.97). A risk increase was observed for red meat (OR = 2.96, 95% CI 1.46–5.99) and pork and processed meat (OR = 3.87, 95% CI 1.86–8.07). An increased risk was found for total protein (OR = 2.96, 95% CI 1.08–8.10), animal protein (OR = 2.91, 95% CI 1.33–6.38), sodium (OR = 3.96, 95% CI 1.45–10.84), zinc (OR = 2.78, 95% CI 1.01–7.83) and glutamic acid (OR = 3.63, 95% CI 1.08–12.2). Conclusions: Some foods/nutrients may be risk factors and others protective factors for ALS.

Validity and Reproducibility of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Dietary Factors Related to Colorectal Cancer.

Dietary factors play a major role in the development of colorectal cancer. This study evaluated the reproducibility and validity of a 109-food item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to measure the consumption of foods and nutrients related to the development of colorectal cancer in a population aged ≥50 years in Flanders, Belgium. A semi-quantitative FFQ was administered two times in a period of two weeks to evaluate reproducibility (FFQ1 and FFQ2). The validity of the FFQ was assessed by comparing FFQ1 against the 3-day diary method (3 DD). A total of 162 respondents (mean age 57.5 years) provided data for the FFQ, of whom 156 also participated in the validity assessment. Mean differences in the intake of foods and nutrients between FFQ1 and FFQ2 were, overall, small and statistically insignificant. However, a higher estimation was observed by FFQ1 as compared to the 3-DD method for the majority of food groups and nutrient intake in the validity assessment. A systematic mean difference (g/day) was observed for eight food groups in the Bland–Altman agreement test; the largest was for fruit intake. Regarding the nutrients, a systematic mean difference was observed in calcium, fat, and vitamin D intake. Overall, the reproducibility of the FFQ was good, and its validity could be satisfactory for estimating absolute food and nutrient intakes and ranking individuals according to high and low intake categories.

Development and Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire to Estimate Intake among Children and Adolescents in Urban Peru.

Tools to assess intake among children in Latin America are limited. We developed and assessed the reproducibility and validity of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) administered to children, adolescents, and their caregivers in Lima, Peru. We conducted 24-h diet recalls (DRs) and focus groups to develop a locally-tailored FFQ prototype for children aged 0–14 years. To validate the FFQ, we administered two FFQs and three DRs to children and/or their caregivers (N = 120) over six months. We examined FFQ reproducibility by quartile agreement and Pearson correlation coefficients, and validity by quartile agreement and correlation with DRs. For reproducibility, quartile agreement ranged from 60–77% with correlations highest for vitamins A and C (0.31). Age-adjusted correlations for the mean DR and the second-administered FFQ were highest in the 0–7 age group, in which the majority of caregivers completed the FFQ on behalf of the child (total fat; 0.67) and in the 8–14 age group, in which both the child and caregiver completed the FFQ together (calcium, niacin; 0.54); correlations were <0.10 for most nutrients in the 8–14 age group in which the caregiver completed the FFQ on the child’s behalf. The FFQ was reproducible and the first developed and validated to assess various nutrients in children and adolescents in Peru.

Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition and Successful Ageing in Elderly Individuals: The Multinational MEDIS Study

Background: The role of diet and inflammation in successful ageing is not transparent, and as such, is still being investigated. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the inflammatory potential of dietary habits in the successful ageing of a random sample of older adults living in the Mediterranean basin and who participated in the MEDIS (MEDiterranean ISlands) study. Methods: During 2005-2016, 3,128 older adults (aged 65-100 years) from 24 Mediterranean islands and the rural Mani region (Peloponnesus) of Greece were enrolled in the study. A multidimensional successful ageing index consisting of 10 components was employed. A validated and reproducible Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to evaluate the dietary habits of the older adults. A nutrition anti-inflammatory (NAI) score based on the participants' specific dietary habits was assessed. Results: Participants with high NAI scores (proinflammatory nutrition) had a higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and lower levels of successful ageing. After adjusting for several confounders, the NAI score was associated with successful ageing (-0.03, 95% CI -0.5 to -0.006). Stratified analysis by gender and advanced age revealed heterogeneity in the NAI score, predicting successful ageing. Conclusions: The inflammatory potential of nutrition was reported as an important factor for successful ageing, suggesting that further research is needed on the role of anti- and proinflammatory dietary habits in healthy and successful ageing.

Dietary total antioxidant capacity and pancreatic cancer risk: an Italian case-control study.

Background:Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality. Diet may be associated with pancreatic cancer, but it is unknown whether specific dietary components contribute to its risk. The potential differential role of dietary antioxidants warrants further investigation.Methods:We analysed data from a case–control study of 326 pancreatic cancer cases and 652 controls conducted between 1991 and 2008 in Northern Italy. Subjects' usual diet was assessed through a validated and reproducible food frequency questionnaire. Using this information and an Italian food composition database, we calculated three indices of dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC): Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for pancreatic cancer using multiple logistic regression models conditioned on study centre, sex and age, and adjusted for major known pancreatic cancer risk factors.Results:Significant inverse associations were found for the highest tertile of TAC compared with the lowest tertile for both TEAC and FRAP. The ORs were 0.61 (95% CI 0.39–0.94, P-value for trend 0.03) and 0.63 (95% CI 0.41–0.99, P-value for trend 0.05), respectively. Total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter was inversely, but not significantly, associated with pancreatic cancer risk, with an OR of 0.78 (95% CI 0.49–1.24, P-value for trend 0.27).Conclusions:Diet high in TAC, as measured by TEAC and FRAP, is inversely associated with pancreatic cancer risk.