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Validity of protein, retinol, folic acid and n–3 fatty acid intakes estimated from the food-frequency questionnaire used in the Danish National Birth Cohort

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Tina B Mikkelsen ,
Merete Osler  and
Sjurdur F Olsen
Tina B Mikkelsen*
Affiliation:
Maternal Nutrition Group, Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
Merete Osler
Affiliation:
Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Sjurdur F Olsen
Affiliation:
Maternal Nutrition Group, Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
*
*Corresponding author: Email tbs@ssi.dk
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Abstract

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Objective

To validate intakes of protein, folic acid, retinol and n–3 fatty acids estimated from a food-frequency questionnaire in week 25 of pregnancy (FFQ-25).

Design

Validation was done against a 7-day weighed food diary (FD) and biomarkers of the nutrients in gestation week 32–38.

Subjects and setting

The FFQ-25 to be validated was used in the Danish National Birth Cohort comprising 101 042 pregnant Danish women, of whom 88 participated in the present validation study.

Results

Estimated intakes of protein, retinol and folic acid did not differ significantly between the two dietary methods, but intake of n–3 fatty acids was one third larger when estimated from the FFQ-25. The intakes estimated from the two dietary methods were all significantly correlated, ranging from 0.20 for retinol intake to 0.57 for folic acid intake. Sensitivities of being correctly classified into low and high quintiles were between 0.22 and 0.77, and specificities were between 0.62 and 0.89. Urinary protein content did not correlate significantly with protein estimated from the FFQ (r = 0.17, P > 0.05), but did with intake estimated from the FD (r = 0.56, P < 0.0001). Erythrocyte folate correlated significantly with the estimated total intake from the FFQ (r = 0.55, P < 0.0001) and the FD (r = 0.52, P < 0.0001). No correlations with plasma retinol were found. Erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3) correlated significantly with n–3 fatty acids intake estimated from both the FFQ-25 (r = 0.37, P < 0.001) and the FD (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The FFQ-25 gives reasonable valid estimates of protein, retinol and folic acid intakes, but seems to overestimate intake of n–3 fatty acids.

Keywords

ValidationFood-frequency questionnaireFood diariesBiomarkersErythrocyte folatePlasma retinolUrinary nitrogenErythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acidDanish National Birth Cohort
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 6 , September 2006 , pp. 771 - 778
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

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