Short Food Frequency Questionnaire Research Articles

Reproducibility and Relative Validity of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire for Chinese Older Adults in Hong Kong.

Changes in an individual's digestive system, hormones, senses of smell and taste, and energy requirement accompanying aging could lead to impaired appetite, but older adults may not notice their risk of nutrient deficiency. When assessing the dietary intake of older adults, it was found that they had more difficulties with short-term recall and open-ended recall and would experience greater fatigue and frustration when compared to younger individuals when completing a lengthy questionnaire. There is a need to develop a brief dietary assessment tool to examine the nutritional needs of older adults. In this study, we aimed to assess the diet of Hong Kong older adults using the short FFQ and examine its reproducibility and relative validity as a dietary assessment tool. Dietary data of 198 older adults were collected via FFQs and three-day dietary records. Correlation analyses, cross-tabulation, one-sample t-tests, and linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the relative validity of the short FFQ. In general, the short FFQ was accurate in assessing the intake of phosphorus, water, grains, and wine, as shown by a significant correlation (>0.7) between values reported in the FFQs and dietary records; good agreement (more than 50% of observations belonged to the same quartile) and insignificant differences detected with the one-sample t-tests and linear regression analyses were observed for the above four variables. Additionally, the intake of proteins, carbohydrates, total fat, magnesium, and eggs in terms of the values reported in the FFQs and dietary records showed good agreement.

Intakes from healthy and unhealthy food groups and obesity among 5- to 9-year-old South African children

The global pandemic of paediatric overweight and obesity, along with undernutrition among children in low-income countries pose challenges for future health. Unhealthy dietary intake among children is of great concern(1). The aim of this study was to determine the association between intakes from healthy and unhealthy food groups and adiposity among 5- to 9-year-old South African children (n = 920). Conventional dietary intake assessment methods are burdensome; therefore, a short unquantified food frequency questionnaire was developed based on the WHO Global school-based student health survey, which focused on healthy and unhealthy food groups. The new questionnaire includes four healthy food groups (fruits, vegetables, milk, meats) and six unhealthy food groups (hot sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), cold SSBs, cookies, candies, salty snacks, fast foods) with five different responses of frequency of intake per week. The food groups reflect foods generally eaten by South African school children. The questionnaire was completed by the parents. Weight and height were measured and WHO BMI z-score (BAZ) was calculated(2). Descriptive statistics were reported using median and interquartile range. Frequency of intakes from food groups were compared across tertiles of BAZ using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The correlation between frequency of intakes from different food groups, and between the food groups and BAZ was calculated. The children reported similar daily intakes from the milk (35.3%), cold SSBs (33%) and hot SSBs groups (27%). Fruit (14%) and vegetables (9.6%) were consumed daily by a small percentage of children, while animal source protein foods (meat, fish, poultry, eggs) were consumed daily by 39% of children. The most frequent daily consumed snacks were salty snacks, e.g. crisps (13.2%), candy (11.1%) and cookies (5.3%), while fast foods were consumed once per week by the largest proportion of children (60.7%). Based on the WHO BMI z-scores, 15.2% of children were overweight, 4.4% were obese and 3.8% were underweight. Children in the highest two tertile groups of BAZ had a higher median weekly frequency of SSB intake (5, IQR 1,7), compared to those in the lowest BAZ tertile (3, IQR 1,7). No other differences were found between frequency of food group intake across BAZ tertiles. There was a weak positive correlation between BAZ and the frequency of SSB intake (r = 0.08, = 0.015), as well as between frequency of milk intake and frequency of SSB intake (r = 0.13, P<0.001), but a weak negative correlation between the frequency of vegetable intake and frequency of SSB intake (r = −0.08, P = 0.01). In conclusion, low fruit and vegetable intakes, combined with regular SSB intakes are evident in this group of children. The frequency of SSB intake was positively associated with adiposity, and SSB intake apparently replaced vegetable intake, but not milk intake among the children.

Quantifying the relationship between gardening and health and well-being in the UK: a survey during the covid-19 pandemic

BackgroundRates of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, are high and rising in the urbanising world. Gardening could improve both mental and physical health and help prevent a range of conditions by increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption, promoting physical activity, and reducing stress. However, good quality quantitative research in the area is scarce, and our understanding of the role of allotments and home gardens, and the effects of the level of engagement in gardening and involvement with food production has thus far been limited.MethodsWe quantitatively assess the relationship between home and allotment gardening and various indicators and predictors of health and well-being using an online survey of gardeners (n = 203) and non-gardeners (n = 71) in the UK. The survey was composed of multiple validated questionnaires (including the Short Form Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFFQ), the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), the Physical Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and the Self-Rated Health question (SRH)) and self-defined questions relating to participants’ involvement with gardening and food production, and relevant demographic and lifestyle factors. Data were analysed using a series of hierarchical logistic and multiple linear regression models adjusting for socio-demographic variables.ResultsAfter adjusting for relevant socio-demographic factors, gardening related variables were associated with better self-rated health, higher mental well-being, increased F&V consumption. Higher F&V intake was in turn also associated with better self-rated health and decreased odds of obesity. Thus, gardening had a positive association with four different aspects of health and well-being, directly or indirectly via increased F&V consumption.ConclusionsOur results suggest that gardening in UK allotments and domestic gardens may promote different aspects of health and well-being via multiple mechanisms. Improving access to growing space and promoting regular gardening could provide a range of benefits to public health. More research on how socio-economic factors influence the health and well-being benefits of gardening will help policymakers devise strategies to maximise these benefits.

Development and validation of an eight-item calcium screener to assess daily calcium intake of patients with osteoporosis in clinical practice.

To validate a short food frequency questionnaire (screener) estimating daily average calcium intake from dietary sources to guide calcium supplementation of patients with osteoporosis in clinical practice. An eight-item calcium screener was developed based on existing literature, food consumption data and expert opinion. Convergent validity was determined by comparison with 3-day food records using mean difference, Spearman's correlation coefficients (SCC) and Bland-Altman analysis. Test-retest reliability was assessed by SCC and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) to identify patients requiring calcium supplementation (<1200 mg dietary calcium intake/day). Fifty-two patients filled out the eight-item calcium screener and the 3-day Food record (mean age of 66.8 ± 12.9 (SD)) and 38 patients filled out the screener twice for reliability analysis (mean age of 65.8 ± 12.8 (SD)). Dietary calcium intake between the calcium screener and food records showed a strong correlation (N = 52 patients, SCC = 0.53, p ≤ 0.001) and mean difference of 21 mg (p = 0.70). Bland-Altman analysis showed agreement within 95% confidence intervals for 49/52 comparisons (94%). Test-retest reliability of the calcium screener was excellent (SCC = 0.96, p ≤ 0.001; ICC = 0.99, p ≤ 0.001). The calcium screener shows good convergent validity, reliability and feasibility to estimate daily calcium intake of patients with osteoporosis in routine clinical practice.

Association among Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and vitamin D shortage, hemoglobin deficiency, dietary habits, and other variations in children aged 6 to 18 years: cross-sectional investigation at an Iraqi children's hospital

Background: Several studies have shown a correlation between Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) and vitamin D, but considerable disagreement exists. The goal of this study was to see if there was a relationship between vitamin D3 deficiency on the one hand, dietary habits on the other hand, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in kids patients in a hospital in Iraq. Methods: In 2022, a cross-sectional study was done on 1600 patients in a child hospital in Iraq. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic and lifestyle variables, and a short food frequency questionnaire was used to determine dietary patterns (FFQ). After a blood sample from the vein was taken, the H. pylori status (positive vs. negative) was identified. The stool and blood samples were all collected and sent to the hematology, chemistry, and parasitology lab for examination. Logistical multivariable to determine the relationship between socio-demographic, lifestyle, nutritional, and other factors, regression used. With H.pylori infection, there are several health-related issues to consider. In this sample, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was 62.8%. The multivariable analysis revealed that the risk of H. pylori infection was higher among those who did not follow healthy eating habits and whose parents were uneducated. The study found that Vit.D3 deficiency increased in girls more than in boys. H. pylori is associated with socio-demographic and clinical factors. More research is needed to determine the impact of diet on H. pylori risk. Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, Iraq, hemoglobin deficiency, dietary habits

Orthorexia Nervosa: Examining the reliability and validity of two self-report measures and the predictors of orthorexic symptoms in elite and recreational athletes

ObjectivesOrthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterised by a pathological fixation on healthy eating. Athletes are at a greater risk of developing eating disorders (EDs) and since ON is sharing many features with EDs, is considered an emerging health concern as it might compromise athlete's health and performance. Despite recent interest in orthorexia, there are still a lot of inconsistencies around ON and the sensitivity of the available instruments used to assess ON is questioned. The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of two self-reported measures of ON, to assess differences in ON between elite and recreational athletes, and to explore correlates of orthorexic scores among athletic individuals. MethodsCross-sectional study of 215 athletes; 59 elite (mean age 26.71 ± 6.83 years) and 156 recreational athletes (mean age 36.13 ± 14.33 years) completed the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS), Eating Habits Questionnaire (EHQ), Short Form Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFFQ), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), and the Hewitt-Flett Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale Short Form (HF-MPS-SF). ResultsExploratory factor analysis revealed two-factor structures for both the TOS and the EHQ. Elite athletes exhibited higher scores for ‘healthy orthorexia’ (HeOr) (p = .016), ‘knowledge of healthy eating’ (EHQ-Knowledge) (p = .038), diet quality score (DQS) (p = .013) and self-orientated perfectionism scores (p = .032) compared to recreational athletes. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed DQS to be a consistent and significant predictor of all ON symptoms (both TOS and EHQ). BMI was negatively associated with HeOr (β = -.21, p < .001). EAT-26 dieting, bulimia and oral subscales predicted ‘orthorexia nervosa’ (OrNe; smallest p = .015) and ‘problems associated with healthy eating’ (EHQ-Problems; smallest p = .012). Other-orientated perfectionism (OOP) was the only perfectionism construct to predict HeOr (β = .23, p < .01), EHQ-Knowledge (β = .34, p < .001), EHQ-Problems (β = .18, p < .01) and EHQ-Total (β = .27, p < .001). ConclusionsFindings suggest TOS is a reliable measure of ON symptomatology in athletes and further refinement of the EHQ is required. Improvements in assessment tools, study methodology and classification of athlete characteristics are required to advance our understanding of ON in athlete populations.

Sixteen-year trends in fruit consumption and related socioeconomic inequalities among adolescents in Western European countries.

To investigate time trends in daily fruit consumption among Western European adolescents and in related socioeconomic inequalities. We used nationally representative data from 18 countries participating in five rounds (2002 to 2018) of the cross-sectional "Health Behaviour in School-aged Children" (HBSC) survey (n = 458,973). The questionnaire, standardised across countries and rounds, was self-administered at school by 11-, 13- and 15-year-old adolescents. Daily fruit consumption was assessed using a short food frequency questionnaire (sFFQ). Socioeconomic inequalities were measured using the Family Affluence Scale (FAS). Multilevel logistic regressions were applied to study linear time trends in daily fruit consumption, overall, by country and by FAS. Between 2002 and 2018, daily fruit consumption increased in 10 countries (OR range, 1.04 to 1.13, p < 0.05) and decreased in 3 (OR range 0.96 to 0.98, p < 0.05). In all survey years combined, prevalence of daily fruit consumption was significantly higher among high FAS groups (42.6%) compared to medium (36.1%) and low FAS groups (31.7%; all countries: p < 0.001). Between 2002 and 2018, socioeconomic inequalities in fruit consumption increased in Austria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Only in Norway FAS inequalities decreased while the prevalence increased. The prevalence of daily fruit consumption generally increased among adolescents between 2002 and 2018 in Western European countries, yet socioeconomic inequalities increased in some countries. Public health interventions should continue to promote fruit consumption with special attention to lower socioeconomic groups.

Relative Validity of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire for Disadvantaged Families in Hong Kong.

Individuals with lower socioeconomic status are more vulnerable in securing good nutritional quality. It was also found that people who had received a lower education level had greater difficulty in completing the conventional dietary assessment such as a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Previous studies have demonstrated the validity of a short FFQ in Hong Kong's pregnant women, but its validity among a wider community was still unknown. For the present study, we aimed to validate a short FFQ among disadvantaged communities in Hong Kong. Amongst 103 individuals participating in a dietary intervention programme, their dietary data were collected by FFQs and three-day dietary records. Relative validity was assessed by correlation analysis, cross-tabulation, one-sample t-test, and linear regression. In general, water and total energy intake had significant correlations (0.77 for crude water intake and 0.87 for crude total energy intake) between values reported by FFQ and dietary records, good agreement (both with over 50% of observations falling into the same quartile), and insignificant differences between assessment methods reported by one-sample t-test and linear regression. Meanwhile, several nutrients had good agreement in terms of the values reported by FFQ and dietary records, such as energy from total fat, carbohydrates, total fat, cholesterol, phosphorus, and potassium. The results of this study demonstrated that the short version FFQ could be a convenient assessment tool of multiple dietary behaviors, especially in total energy and water intakes.

Using a Patient-Completed Food Frequency Questionnaire to Determine Mediterranean Diet Score in People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Purpose: To examine the level of agreement between a patient-completed food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and assessment of usual intake by a registered dietitian (RD) to score adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedD) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Methods: Patients with IBD completed a short FFQ and were subsequently interviewed by an RD. A 12-item MedD score (MDS), adapted from the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), was calculated from the FFQ and RD assessments. To determine agreement between individual items, Cohen's kappa coefficients were calculated. Absolute agreement between assessment methods was quantified using a one-way random intra-class correlation coefficient for a single measure.Results: Forty-six patients with IBD participated. The mean FFQ-MDS was 4.59 (standard deviation [SD] = 1.65), and mean RD-MDS was 4.83 (SD = 1.53). Kappa coefficients for individual MEDAS items ranged from 0.41 to 0.78 (p < 0.01) between the FFQ- and RD-MDS. Most items demonstrated moderate to substantial agreement. The intra-class correlation coefficient for absolute agreement between the summed FFQ-MDS and RD-MDS was 0.71 (95% confidence interval: 0.52-0.83, p < 0.001), indicating moderate reliability.Conclusions: This patient-completed FFQ may be a promising tool in clinical practice and research and would benefit from additional evaluation to validate its use in patients with IBD.

Development and validity of a short web-based semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire applicable in both clinical and research setting: an evolution over time.

Assessing dietary intake is valuable both in clinical practice and in research. In research and in clinical practice, long-term habitual dietary intake is most often of interest. Therefore, a web-based semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was developed to measure habitual intake of nutrients and foods. This study aimed to assess content validity, convergent validity, and reliability of a 32-item semi-quantitative FFQ for adults. A total of three different cohorts of Flemish adults were recruited in the past 10 years. The first cross-sectional validation study took place in 2013, consequently in 2019 and 2021. Content validity was assessed in 2019 through a semi-structured cognitive interview. Convergent validity was assessed by examining mean differences, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Spearman's correlation coefficients (SCC), and Bland-Altman analysis for energy, nutrient, and food group intake compared with a 3-day food record (FR). Additionally, consumers-only analysis was performed together with cross-classification analysis by assessing the ranking capabilities of the FFQ into quartiles and weighted kappa. Reliability was assessed through the evaluation of SCC and intra-class correlation (ICC) of test-retest assessment of the FFQ. Spearman's correlation coefficient (SCC) for energy and absolute nutrient intake between the FFQ and the FR ranged from 0.02 to 0.54. Compared with absolute macronutrients, higher SCC was found for the majority of the relative macronutrient intake and most food groups. Bland-Altman plots showed improved agreement and decreasing bias between the FFQ and the FR over time. Misclassification of the FFQ for nutrients was acceptable and decreased over time (7.4, 7.5, and 6.8% in 2013, 2019, and 2021, respectively), but weighted kappa remained mostly fair (κ ≤ 0.20). The reliability of the FFQ was good and improved over time (mean SCC of 0.65 and 0.66 p <0.001 in 2013 and 2019). The short web-based FFQ is an easy, low-cost, and feasible tool with good reliability, low misclassification, and acceptable validity to compare nutrient densities and food group intake at the population level. The measurement of absolute intake remains debatable.

Dietary intake and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic vascular disease: insights from the COMPASS trial cohort.

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are at risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major adverse limb events (MALE). There are limited data regarding dietary patterns and the risk of recurrent MACE and MALE in CAD and PAD patients. We aimed to identify dietary patterns associated with MACE and MALE in patients with CAD and/or PAD. We analysed data collected from patients enrolled into the Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies (COMPASS) trial, in which diet was assessed by a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at baseline. Two dietary pattern scores, the modified Alternate Healthy Eating Index (mAHEI) and Mediterranean Diet Score (mMDS), were calculated. We tested the association between mAHEI and mMDS and the incidence of MACE and/or MALE. The mean mAHEI score was 23.0 ± 7.7 (out of 70) overall and was similar comparing CAD and PAD patients. The incidence of MACE or MALE was 6.3% in the lowest diet quality quartile (as assessed by mAHEI) compared with 4.2% in the highest quartile over 30 months. In the fully adjusted model, the hazard ratio of a low diet quality (Quartile 1) compared with the highest (Quartile 4) for MACE or MALE was 1.27 (95% CI: 1.08-1.49; P = 0.004, Q1 vs. Q4). This excess hazard was primarily driven by higher MACE in both the CAD and PAD cohorts. Poor diet quality as assessed by the mAHEI is independently associated with a higher risk of recurrent MACE and MALE in patients with chronic CAD and/or PAD.

Impact of ¡Míranos! on parent-reported home-based healthy energy balance-related behaviors in low-income Latino preschool children: a clustered randomized controlled trial

BackgroundWidespread establishment of home-based healthy energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs), like diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, screen time, and sleep, among low-income preschool-aged children could curb the childhood obesity epidemic. We examined the effect of an 8-month multicomponent intervention on changes in EBRBs among preschool children enrolled in 12 Head Start centers.MethodsThe Head Start (HS) centers were randomly assigned to one of three treatment arms: center-based intervention group (CBI), center-based plus home-based intervention group (CBI + HBI), or control. Before and following the intervention, parents of 3-year-olds enrolled in participating HS centers completed questionnaires about their child’s at-home EBRBs. Adult-facilitated physical activity (PA) was measured by an index based on questions assessing the child’s level of PA participation at home, with or facilitated by an adult. Fruit, vegetable, and added sugar intake were measured via a short food frequency questionnaire, and sleep time and screen time were measured using 7-day logs. A linear mixed effects model examined the intervention’s effect on post-intervention changes in PA, intake of fruit, vegetable, and added sugar, sleep time, and screen time from baseline to post-intervention.ResultsA total of 325 parents participated in the study (CBI n = 101; CBI + HBI n = 101; and control n = 123). Compared to control children, CBI and CBI + HBI parents reported decreases in children’s intake of added sugar from sugar-sweetened beverages. Both CBI and CBI + HBI parents also reported smaller increases in children’s average weekday screen time relative to controls. In addition, CBI + HBI parents reported CBI + HBI parents reported increases in children’s adult-facilitated PA, fruit and vegetable intake, and daily sleep time during weekdays (excluding weekends) and the total week from baseline to post-intervention, while children in the CBI increased sleep time over the total week compared to the children in the control group.ConclusionsParent engagement strengthened the improvement in parent-reported EBRBs at home in young children participating in an evidence-based obesity prevention program in a childcare setting. Future studies should investigate equity-related contextual factors that influence the impact of obesity prevention in health-disparity populations.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03590834. Registered July 18, 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03590834

Use of zinc deposited in deciduous teeth as a retrospective measurement of dietary zinc exposure during early development.

We proposed that zinc (Zn) deposition in deciduous teeth would be a timed record of exposure to this essential micronutrient over very early life. We tested this hypothesis by gathering information on the maternal and child's diet during pregnancy and early infancy and measuring mineral deposition in the dentine at points during deciduous tooth development. We developed a short food frequency questionnaire (S-FFQ) to record consumption of food containing Zn during pregnancy and over the first year of life of the child in an Indonesian population. Zn, Sr and Ca were measured by laser ablation ICP-MS in a series of points across the developmental timeline in deciduous teeth extracted from 18 children undergoing the process as part of dental treatment whose mothers completed the SFFQ. Mothers and children were classified into either high Zn or low Zn groups according to calculated daily Zn intake. The Zn/Sr ratio in dentine deposited over late pregnancy and 0-3 months post-partum was higher (p < 0.001, 2-way ANOVA; p < 0.05 by Holm-Sidak post hoc test) in the teeth of children of mothers classified as high Zn consumers (n = 10) than in children of mothers classified as low Zn consumers (n = 8). The S-FFQ was validated internally as adequately accurate to measure zinc intake retrospectively during pregnancy and post-partum (∼7 years prior) by virtue of the correlation with measurements of zinc in deciduous teeth. The ratio of Zn/Sr in deciduous teeth appears to be a biomarker of exposure to zinc nutrition during early development and offers promise for use as a record of prior exposure along a timeline for research studies and, potentially, to identify individuals at heightened risk of detrimental impacts of poor early life zinc nutrition on health in later life and to implement preventative interventions.

Pilot Study to Estimate Dietary Fiber Intake in Adults Residing in Chile.

Dietary fiber has been associated with health benefits; therefore, the availability of validated tools to assess food consumption associated with high-fiber foods would allow the quantification of the intake of this functional nutrient, the identification of risk groups and target populations, and the development of public policies and/or programs aimed at improving the health of the population. In this study, a fiber intake short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was translated into Spanish, and its content validity was determined by a group of experts, to subsequently conduct a pilot test including 198 subjects aged 36 ± 12.5 years, residing in Chile (46 men and 150 women), with the purpose of quantifying dietary fiber intake. The global assessment of the FFQ revealed a validity coefficient of 0.98 ± 0.02; after the application of the pilot, the mean dietary fiber intake in adult Chilean residents was 12.3 g per day, with similar results to those found in the National Food Consumption Survey 2010 (12.5 g per day in men, and 11.5 g in women). The FFQ is a quick and valid tool to classify people on the basis of their habitual dietary fiber intake.

Association between diet quality and BMI with side effects of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G titers

PurposeThe nutritional and anthropometric status can be essential in determining their immune response to vaccines. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the association between diet quality and anthropometric indices with the side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G titer among Kurdish adults.Design/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted between December 2021 and February 2022. This paper included data on 115 adults, 20–89 years old, from the Kurdistan region. Dietary information was collected using a short food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality was assessed using a plant-based healthy diet score. A blood test was performed to measure the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobin G (IgG) titer after the vaccination's first and second doses.FindingsOverweight and obese subjects reported more local pain, myalgia, headache, local bruising and local reactions after receiving the first dose of the vaccine (p = 0.04). People on a less healthy diet reported more local pain, myalgia and headache (p = 0.04) and more local bruising and reactions (p = 0.01) after receiving the second dose of the vaccine. On the other hand, the authors observed that those with healthy dietary habits had more IgG titer after the first and second doses of vaccination than those with less healthy dietary habits (p = 0.001).Originality/valueThe results showed that participants with a healthy diet and normal weight status had fewer side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine than obese people and those with a less healthy diet.

Efficacy and utility of a tool for both measurement of vitamin B6, B12, D, folate and iron status and assessment of diet quality in athletes.

NutriProfiel® is a tool to measure micronutrient status and to assess diet quality. It consists of measurement of micronutrient status in blood and a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) ('Eetscore-FFQ'). Based on the results, individuals receive a dietary advice. In this study, we evaluated the application of NutriProfiel in athletes ('NutriProfiel-Sport') by assessing the coverage of nutrient intake of the Eetscore-FFQ (part 1) and by evaluating athlete's dietary behaviour after using NutriProfiel-Sport and their satisfaction with this tool (part 2). For part 1, data of 419 athletes were used. We evaluated the coverage of nutrient intake of the Eetscore-FFQ using first and second MOMents (MOM1 and MOM2) sum scores of food items in the questionnaire. Forty-eight athletes were involved in part 2. They gave blood samples for micronutrient status measurement and were asked to complete the Eetscore-FFQ at baseline and after 3 months, as well as a questionnaire on their satisfaction with NutriProfiel-Sport. Results showed that for most nutrients, MOM1 and MOM2 scores were above 80 %, meaning that nutrient intake was sufficiently covered by the Eetscore-FFQ. No difference in diet quality was observed between baseline and after 3 months. Nevertheless, a majority of athletes reported the NutriProfiel-Sport results and advice as useful. On a scale from 0 to 10, NutriProfiel-Sport was graded with a mean (±sd) score of 7⋅6 (±0⋅8). In conclusion, NutriProfiel-Sport is a potential valuable and appreciated tool for athletes and the Eetscore-FFQ as part of this tool sufficiently covers nutrient intake in athletes.

Criterion Validity of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire for Mexican American Adults.

Background: The purpose of this study was to validate the School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for Mexican American adults (SPAN MAA). Methods: A sample of 100 Mexican American adult participants was drawn from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (on the Texas−Mexico border). We used Spearman rank order correlation coefficients, kappa statistics, and percent agreement to compare the SPAN MAA questionnaire to a 24 h recall collected on the same day. Results: Of 100 participants, 93 were included in the analyses. One item showed substantial (>0.6), five items moderate (>0.4), five items fair (>0.2) and three items little to no agreement (<0.2). Items with low agreement were those reported in low frequencies by study participants. Conclusions: SPAN MAA FFQ had moderate to fair agreement between instruments across both sexes, making this brief questionnaire a useful tool to quickly assess the dietary intake patterns of Mexican American adults.

A Short Digital Food Frequency Questionnaire (DIGIKOST-FFQ) Assessing Dietary Intake and Other Lifestyle Factors Among Norwegians: Qualitative Evaluation With Focus Group Interviews and Usability Testing.

In-person dietary counseling and interventions have shown promising results in changing habits toward healthier lifestyles, but they are costly to implement in large populations. Developing digital tools to assess individual dietary intake and lifestyle with integrated personalized feedback systems may help overcome this challenge. We developed a short digital food frequency questionnaire, known as the DIGIKOST-FFQ, to assess diet and other lifestyle factors based on the Norwegian Food-Based Dietary Guidelines. The DIGIKOST-FFQ includes a personalized feedback system, the DIGIKOST report, that benchmarks diet and lifestyle habits. We used qualitative focus group interviews and usability tests to test the feasibility and usability of the DIGIKOST application. We aimed to explore attitudes, perceptions, and challenges in completing the DIGIKOST-FFQ. We also investigated perceptions and understanding of the personalized feedback in the DIGIKOST report and the technical flow and usability of the DIGIKOST-FFQ and the DIGIKOST report. Healthy individuals and cancer survivors were invited to participate in the focus group interviews. The transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Another group of healthy individuals completed the usability testing, which was administered individually by a moderator and 2 observers. The results were analyzed based on predefined assignments and discussion with the participants about the interpretation of the DIGIKOST report and technical flow of the DIGIKOST-FFQ. A total of 20 individuals participated in the focus group interviews, divided into 3 groups of healthy individuals and 3 groups of cancer survivors. Each group consisted of 3 to 4 individuals. Five main themes were investigated: (1) completion time (on average 19.1, SD 8.3, minutes, an acceptable duration), (2) layout (participants reported the DIGIKOST-FFQ was easy to navigate and had clear questions but presented challenges in reporting dietary intake, sedentary time, and physical activity in the last year), (3) questions (the introductory questions on habitual intake worked well), (4) pictures (the pictures were very helpful, but some portion sizes were difficult to differentiate and adding weight in grams would have been helpful), and (5) motivation (users were motivated to obtain personalized feedback). Four individuals participated in the usability testing. The results showed that the users could seamlessly log in, give consent, fill in the DIGIKOST-FFQ, and receive, print, and read the DIGIKOST report. However, parts of the report were perceived as difficult to interpret. The DIGIKOST-FFQ was overall well received by participants, who found it feasible to use; however, some adjustments with regard to reporting dietary intake and lifestyle habits were suggested. The DIGIKOST report with personalized feedback was the main motivation to complete the questionnaire. The results from the usability testing revealed a need for adjustments and updates to make the report easier to read.

Development, Relative Validity, and Reproducibility of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire for the Japanese.

We have developed a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for use in assessing diet quality for Japan, with special reference to the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Here, we assessed the ranking performance of this FFQ and its reproducibility. We developed a 28-item (21 food groups and 7 beverage) FFQ with consideration to both Japanese dietary culture and evidence of disease prevention. Twenty-four university faculty members participated in the validation study. They completed 3-day photographic food record and answered the FFQ on the next day of the last food record (time 1) and a week later (time 2). We calculated Spearman correlation coefficients between intakes of food groups from photographic food records and the consumption frequency from the FFQs (ranking ability) and between the consumption frequency of food groups from the FFQs (time 1 and time 2) (reproducibility). Spearman correlation coefficients between the food records and FFQ (time 1) ranged from −0.12 to 0.86 (median 0.51). These values were comparable to those in comparison with FFQ (time 2). After energy adjustment of intakes from the food records, the corresponding values were somewhat weakened for many food groups. The correlation coefficients between two FFQs ranged from 0.14 to 0.96 (median 0.79). The short FFQ showed acceptable reproducibility and ability to rank the consumption of most food groups.

DIETARY INTAKE AND CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC VASCULAR DISEASE IN THE COMPASS TRIAL

DIETARY INTAKE AND CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC VASCULAR DISEASE IN THE COMPASS TRIAL