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Background: Insights into (poly)phenol exposure represent a modifiable factor that may modulate inflammation in chronic pancreatitis (CP), yet intake is poorly characterized and methods for assessment are underdeveloped. Aims: The aims are to develop and test a method for estimating (poly)phenol intake from a 90-day food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) using the Phenol-Explorer database and determine associations with dietary patterns in CP patients versus controls via analysis of previously collected cross-sectional data. Methods: Fifty-two CP patients and 48 controls were recruited from an ambulatory clinic at a large, academic institution. To assess the feasibility of the proposed methodology for estimating dietary (poly)phenol exposure, a retrospective analysis of FFQ data was completed. Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare (poly)phenol intake by group; Spearman correlations and multivariable-adjusted log-linear associations were used to compare (poly)phenol intakes with dietary scores within the sample. Results: Estimation of (poly)phenol intake from FFQs was feasible and produced estimates within a range of intake previously reported. Total (poly)phenol intake was significantly lower in CP vs controls (463 vs. 567mg/1000kcal; p = 0.041). In adjusted analyses, higher total (poly)phenol intake was associated with higher HEI-2015 (r = 0.34, p < 0.001), aMED (r = 0.22, p = 0.007), EDIH (r = 0.29, p < 0.001), and EDIP scores (r = 0.35, p < 0.001), representing higher overall diet quality and lower insulinemic and anti-inflammatory dietary potentials, respectively. Conclusions: Using enhanced methods to derive total (poly)phenol intake from an FFQ is feasible. Those with CP have lower total (poly)phenol intake and less favorable dietary pattern indices, thus supporting future tailored dietary intervention studies in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To improve human health and environmental sustainability, red meat consumption should decrease and legume consumption increase in diets. More information on food motives, however, is required when developing more tailored and effective interventions targeting legume and meat consumption. We aimed to examine the associations between food motives and red meat and legume consumption, and whether these associations differ between different subgroups (gender, age groups, marital status, education, BMI). Methods: Ten food motives (health, mood, convenience, sensory appeal, natural content, price-cheap, price-value, weight control, familiarity and ethical concern measured with Food Choice Questionnaire) were studied in 3079 Finnish adults in the population-based DILGOM study. Food consumption was assessed with Food Frequency Questionnaire. The adjusted estimates from multivariable regression models are reported. Results: Higher relative importance of natural content (β = − 0.275, 95% CI − 0.388; − 0.162) and ethical concern (β = − 0.462, 95% CI − 0.620; − 0.305) were associated with lower red meat consumption, and higher appreciation of sensory appeal (β = 0.482, 95% CI 0.347; 0.616) and price-cheap (β = 0.190, 95% CI 0.099; 0.281) with higher red meat consumption. Higher importance of health (β = 0.608, 95% CI 0.390; 0.825) was associated with higher legume consumption, and higher appreciation of convenience (β = − 0.401, 95% CI − 0.522; − 0.279), price-value (β = − 0.257, 95% CI − 0.380; − 0.133) and familiarity (β = − 0.278, 95% CI − 0.393; − 0.164) with lower legume consumption. The associations of particularly ethical concern, weight control, sensory appeal and mood varied according to gender, age, marital status or BMI. Conclusion: The development and implementation of actions to decrease red meat and increase legume consumption should focus on several food motives across different subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reliable food and beverage frequency questionnaire (F&B-FQ) to measure dietary intakes for children across Spain is currently unavailable. Thus, we designed and assessed the reproducibility and relative validity of a new F&B-FQ in 210 Spanish children aged 3–11 years. COME-Kids F&B-FQ contained 125 items to assess the usual diet intake in the past year among children. To explore the reproducibility, caregivers answered COME-Kids F&B-FQ twice over a 15-day period (± 1 week). To evaluate the relative validity, estimates from a third COME-Kids F&B-FQ administered at 1 year of follow-up were compared with the mean estimates from 3-day dietary records (3d-DR) collected at baseline, 6 months, and after 1 year of follow-up. Reproducibility and relative validity of the COME-Kids F&B-FQ in estimating food groups and nutrients were assessed using Pearson (r) and intra-class (ICC) correlation coefficients. We used the kappa index to evaluate the agreement in repeat administrations or with the 3d-DR. We used Bland–Altman plots to identify bias across levels of intake. A total of 195 children (105 boys, 90 girls) completed the study. The reproducibility of data estimated from COME-Kids F&B-FQ was substantial with mean r and ICC being 0.65 and 0.64 for food groups and 0.63 and 0.62 for nutrients, respectively. Validation assessments comparing the FFQ and 3d-DRs showed r = 0.36 and ICC = 0.30 for food groups and r = 0.29 and ICC = 0.24 for nutrients. The mean agreement for food group reproducibility and relative validity was 86% and 65%, respectively. These estimates were 85% for reproducibility and 64% for relative validity in the case of nutrients. For reproducibility and relative validity, the overall mean kappa index was 63% and 37% for all food groups and 52% and 27% for nutrients, respectively. Bland–Altman plots showed no specific bias relating to the level of intake of nutrients and several food groups. Conclusion: COME-Kids F&B-FQ showed substantial reproducibility and acceptable relative validity to assess food and beverage intake in Spanish children aged 3 to 11 years. Most children were correctly classified in relation to the intake of food groups and nutrients, and misclassification was unlikely with reference to 3d-DR. What is Known: • The estimation of dietary intake in children is complex, especially in large cohorts. • The food frequency questionnaire is a well-recognized and the most frequently used method for assessing food consumption. What is New: • A new food and beverage frequency questionnaire including a beverage section and novel plant-based food items has been validated in Spanish children aged 3–11 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a public health issue that can result in liver cirrhosis and its complications. Aim of work: Assess the dietary pattern, physical activity, and sleep quality of MAFLD patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 77 MAFLD patients being present in the outpatient clinic of Endemic Medicine Department at Cairo University Hospital. An interview questionnaire including sociodemographic, medical history, validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) were utilized to collect data. Results: Among patients, 36%, 34%, and 30% had liver steatosis grades I (mild), II (moderate), and III (severe) respectively. Waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), daily caloric and carbohydrate intake, impaired sleep quality, and low physical activity were significantly linked with steatosis grades. The independent significant predictors for MAFLD severity were waist circumference (P = 0.011, OR 1.119), poor sleep quality (P = 0.038, OR 3.871), habitual sleep efficiency (OR 3.402, 95%CI 1.403–8.252), daytime dysfunction (OR 2.487, 95%CI 1.374–4.501), and physical activity (P = 0.027, OR 4.6). Conclusion: Waist circumference, poor sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction, and low physical activity were the real marked predictors for MAFLD severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In humans, zinc is involved in many biological functions acting as signaling ion, neurotransmitter, structural component of proteins, and cofactor for many enzymes and, through this, is an important regulator of the immune and nervous system. Food supplies zinc to the human body, but a high prevalence of inadequate dietary zinc intake has been reported worldwide. Aims: The objective of this study was to investigate the zinc intake and bioavailability of over 250 women (pregnant and non-pregnant) based in Ireland, in order to evaluate the dietary inadequacy of zinc. Methodology: We used a food frequency questionnaire designed to assess the zinc intake and bioavailability of the participants. Results: Our results show that 58% of participants are at risk of inadequate zinc intake and that 29% may be zinc deficient. The prevalence of inadequate zinc intake was lower for pregnant women (zinc deficient 9%, at risk 38%) than for non-pregnant women due to more frequent consumption of supplements. Low zinc intake was not correlated with the age of participants and resulted from a combination of inadequate intake of zinc-rich food and relatively higher intake of food items rich in phytate, a major zinc uptake inhibitor. Conclusions: We conclude that at present, low zinc intake may be prevalent in as much as 87% of women, including 47% of pregnant women. Therefore, zinc status needs to be considered as a factor impacting the health of women, and in particular pregnant women, also in industrialized and developed countries such as Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cancer burden is rising rapidly in Nigeria, the most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa; this trend may in part be attributable to diet. We developed and validated a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess regional diet in Nigeria. Methods: We recruited 68 adult participants from rural and urban settings in South West Nigeria. We developed an FFQ administered at baseline and assessed its validity using 3 dietary recalls (baseline, 7 days post baseline, 3 months post baseline). We calculated Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and energy-adjusted de-attenuated correlation coefficients for food items and macronutrients. We evaluated cross-classification using quartiles of macronutrient intake. Results: Energy-adjusted de-attenuated food item correlations between the FFQ and dietary recalls ranged from -0.08 (smoked beef/goat) to 0.73 (fried snacks) for the average intake from the first 2 recalls (2DR) and from -0.05 (smoked beef/goat) to 0.75 (smoked fish) for the average of all 3 recalls (3DR). Macronutrient correlations ranged from 0.15 (fat) to 0.37 (fiber) for the 2DR and from 0.08 (fat) to 0.41 (carbohydrates) for the 3DR. The percent of participants classified in the same quartile ranged from 16.4% (fat) to 32.8% (fiber, protein) for the 2DR and from 25.6% (fat) to 34.9% (carbohydrates) for the 3DR. Agreement improved when including adjacent quartiles, from 65.5% (carbohydrates) to 70.5% (fat, fiber) for the 2DR and from 62.8% (protein) to 76.8% (carbohydrate) for the 3DR. Conclusion: Our semi-quantitative FFQ was reasonably valid for ranking intake of certain foods and macronutrients in adults in South West Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Available evidence on favorable nutritional factors for preventing osteoporosis remains controversial. Considering the recent increases in life expectancy, we investigated the relationship between incident osteoporotic fractures and dietary habits in early and late postmenopausal phase women. Materials and methods: Subjects were Japanese postmenopausal outpatients recruited at a primary care institution in Nagano Prefecture (Nagano Cohort Study). Patients with critical or acute illness or secondary osteoporosis were not included in this study. In total, 1,071 participants were prospectively followed for a mean of 5.8 years. The cohort was divided into early (≤ 70 years) and late (> 70 years) postmenopausal phases based on median age. Dietary nutrient intake was estimated by the food frequency questionnaire method. According to baseline nutrient intake characteristics, we focused on protein/energy and Ca/NaCl intake ratios, which were also divided by the median values. Results: Kaplan–Meier plots revealed a significantly higher occurrence of fractures for the high protein/energy intake group in early postmenopausal subjects (P = 0.009), whereas the low Ca/NaCl intake group in late postmenopausal subjects exhibited a significantly earlier occurrence of fractures (P = 0.002). Multivariate Cox regression uncovered significant independent risks of higher protein/energy (HR 1.35; 95% CI 1.04–1.74) and lower Ca/NaCl (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.63–0.99) intake ratios for incident osteoporotic fractures in the early and late postmenopausal cohorts, respectively. Conclusion: Distinct dietary risk factors for osteoporotic fractures were identified in early and late postmenopausal phase women. Appropriate nutritional guidance according to patient age will be important for maintaining bone health and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for food group intake in Japan, the reproducibility and partial validity of which were previously confirmed for nutrients. Methods: A total of 288 middle-aged healthy volunteers from 11 different areas of Japan provided nonconsecutive 3-day weighed dietary records (DRs) at 3-month intervals over four seasons. We evaluated reproducibility based on the first (FFQ1) and second (FFQ2) questionnaires and their validity against the DRs by comparing the intake of 20 food groups. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (SRs) were calculated between energy-adjusted intake from the FFQs and that from the DRs. Results: The intake of 20 food groups estimated from the two FFQs was mostly equivalent. The median energy-adjusted SRs between the FFQ1 and FFQ2 were 0.61 (range 0.38–0.86) for men and 0.66 (0.45–0.84) for women. For validity, the median de-attenuated SRs between DRs and the FFQ1 were 0.51 (0.17–0.76) for men and 0.47 (0.23–0.77) for women. Compared with the DRs, the proportion of cross-classification into exact plus adjacent quintiles with the FFQ1 ranged from 58 to 86% in men and from 57 to 86% in women. According to the robust Z scores and the Bland–Altman plot graphs, the underestimation errors in the FFQ1 tended to be greater in individuals with high mean levels of consumption for meat for men and for other vegetables for both men and women. Conclusion: The FFQ demonstrated high reproducibility and reasonable validity for food group intake. This questionnaire is short and remains appropriate for identifying associations between diet and health/disease among adults in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive liver disease known for its frequent concurrence with inflammatory bowel disease. PSC can progress to cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, hepatobiliary cancer, and/or colorectal cancer. The etiopathogenesis of PSC remains poorly understood, and, as such, pharmacotherapy has yet to be definitively established. Little is known about the salivary microbiome in PSC and PSC-IBD. This study aimed to evaluate the oral microbiome of patients with PSC, with association to these patient's fecal microbial composition. Methods: Saliva, fecal samples and Food Frequency Questionnaires were collected from 35 PSC patients with or without concomitant inflammatory bowel disease and 30 age- and BMI-matched healthy volunteers. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed using Illumina MiSeq platform. Results: The salivary microbial signature of PSC was significantly altered as compared to healthy controls, independent of concomitant IBD, and was comprised of 19 significantly altered species, of which, eight species were consistently overrepresented in both fecal and saliva of patients with PSC, including Veillonella, Scardovia and Streptococcus. Conclusions: PSC is characterized by microbial dysbiosis in the gut and the salivary microbiome, independently from IBD. The PSC dysbiotic signature includes a reduction in autochthonous bacteria and an increased relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria, including an invasion of oral bacteria to the gut. PSC is a strong modulator of the microbial profile, in the gut and the oral microbiome. These results may lead to the development of biomarkers for screening and early diagnosis or the development of personalized medicine in PSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain food products have been shown to accumulate arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) making it critical to monitor individual's intake, particularly when they live near sources of environmental contamination. After a literature review, a novel dietary assessment was conducted to estimate a child's potential exposure to these metal(loid)s via consumption of locally grown foods in communities impacted by active or legacy resource extraction activities. Mean ingestion rates of As- and Cd-translocating crops belonging to the Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Caricaceae, Amaranthaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Liliaceae, Solanaceae, Apiaceae, and Fabaceae plant families were calculated for children: 1 to < 2 years, 2 to < 3 years, and 3 to < 6 years of age. These calculated ingestion rates ranged from 0 to 143,571 mg day−1. Farmer–consumer relationship was the leading motivation for buying locally grown foods, while lack of experience/unfamiliarity was the most frequently reported reason for not buying locally. The median percentages of child's yearly consumption of fruits and vegetables originating from stores (conventionally grown) and from local sources (farmer's market) were 48% and 38%, respectively. Tomato was the crop with the highest intake rate among children 1 to < 2 years and 2 to < 3 years of age and broccoli for children 3 to < 6 years of age. It was concluded that families who are reliant on locally grown food products may be disproportionately exposed to As and Cd, which could cause detrimental health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Several studies have reported seasonal variation in intake of food groups and certain nutrients. However, whether this could lead to a seasonal pattern of diet quality has not been addressed. We aimed to describe the seasonality of diet quality, and to examine the contribution of the food groups included in the dietary guidelines to this seasonality. Methods: Among 9701 middle-aged and elderly participants of the Rotterdam Study, a prospective population-based cohort, diet was assessed using food-frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Diet quality was measured as adherence to the Dutch dietary guidelines, and expressed in a diet quality score ranging from 0 to 14 points. The seasonality of diet quality and of the food group intake was examined using cosinor linear mixed models. Models were adjusted for sex, age, cohort, energy intake, physical activity, body mass index, comorbidities, and education. Results: Diet quality had a seasonal pattern with a winter-peak (seasonal variation = 0.10 points, December-peak) especially among participants who were men, obese and of high socio-economic level. This pattern was mostly explained by the seasonal variation in the intake of legumes (seasonal variation = 3.52 g/day, December-peak), nuts (seasonal variation = 0.78 g/day, January-peak), sugar-containing beverages (seasonal variation = 12.96 milliliters/day, June-peak), and dairy (seasonal variation = 17.52 g/day, June-peak). Conclusions: Diet quality varies seasonally with heterogeneous seasonality of food groups counteractively contributing to the seasonal pattern in diet quality. This seasonality should be considered in future research on dietary behavior. Also, season-specific recommendations and policies are required to improve diet quality throughout the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Salt intake among children in Switzerland is unknown. The objectives of this study were to determine salt excretion and to identify the main dietary sources of salt intake among children in one region of Switzerland. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a convenient sample of children 6–16 years of age in Valais, Switzerland, between 2016 and 2018. All children visiting several regional health care providers and without any clinical condition that could affect sodium intake or excretion were eligible. Each child completed a 24-h urine collection to assess salt excretion and two dietary questionnaires to assess dietary sources of salt intake. Weight and height were measured. Results: Data were available on 94 children (55 boys and 39 girls; mean age 10.5 years; age range 6–16 years). The mean 24-h salt urinary excretion was 5.9 g [SD 2.8; range 0.8–16.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.3–6.5]. Two-thirds (62%) of the children had salt excretions above recommendations of maximum intake (i.e., ≥ 2 g per day for children up to 6 years of age and ≥ 5 g per day for children 7–16 years of age). The salt excretion tended to be higher during the week-end (6.0 g, 95% CI 5.4–6.6) than during the week (5.4 g, 95% CI 4.3–6.7). The main sources of salt intake were pastas, potatoes, and rice (23% of total salt intake), pastries (16%), bread (16%), and cured meats (10%). One child out of three (34%) added salt to their plate at the table. Conclusions: Salt intake in children in one region of Switzerland was high. Our findings suggest that salt intake in children could be reduced by lowering salt content in commonly eaten foods. Trial registration number: NCT02900261. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary pattern analysis is a useful tool to study the importance of food components in the context of a diet and how they relate to health and disease. The association between dietary patterns and fractures is at present uncertain. We aimed to study associations between dietary patterns and risk of hip fracture in the Swedish Mammography Cohort, including 56,736 women (median baseline age 52 years). Diet data was collected in food frequency questionnaires at two investigations and dietary patterns were defined by principal component analysis using 31 food groups. Information on hip fractures was collected from the Swedish National Patient Register. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated in Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. The two patterns identified-the healthy and Western/convenience dietary patterns-were time-updated and analysed. During a median follow-up time of 25.5 years, 4997 women experienced a hip fracture. Hip fracture rate was 31% lower in the highest compared to the lowest quartile of the healthy dietary pattern [HR (95% CI) 0.69 (0.64; 0.75)]. In contrast, women in the highest compared to the lowest quartile of the Western/convenience dietary pattern had a 50% higher [HR (95% CI) 1.50 (1.38; 1.62)] hip fracture rate. Further, in each stratum of a Western/convenience dietary pattern a higher adherence to a healthy dietary pattern was associated with less hip fractures. The present results suggest that a varied healthy diet may be beneficial for the prevention of fragility fractures in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the degree of agreement of dietary intake reported by the patient subject with the dietary intake reported by a respondent (a next-of-kin or a caregiver), collected by a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Methodology: 126 adults, both sexes, the average age was 65.9 years for patients and 54.4 years for respondents. They were recruited from the General Practice Clinic at the Clinical Hospital of São Paulo (AGD-FMUSP). The agreement between the responses given by patients and respondents was assessed using Spearman, weighted Kappa and Bland Altman tests. Results: The analysis for accuracy between responses (Spearman test) showed a moderate degree of agreement (0.31-0.39) for Energy, Total fat, Total Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA), Total Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA). Regarding food groups a moderate agreement was found for the majority of the foods (fruits (0.30), dairy products (0.50), natural juices (0.45), beans (0.48), butter/margarine (0.55), coffee (0.41) and soda (0.45), with the exception of vegetables (0.12) and rice (0.63). The ingestion differences did not exceeded the limit of the two standard deviations for the majority of the pairs (Bland Altman). A respondent subsample composed only of husband/wives (N = 36) revealed a moderate agreement concordance for most macronutrients studied (0.30 - 0.58), except polyunsaturated fats (0.25). Conclusion: The results of this study show that, the FFQ may be used in cases where is impossible to get the answers directly from the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal diet is critical to fetal development and lifelong health outcomes. In this context, dietary quality indices in pregnancy should be explicitly underpinned by data correlating food intake patterns with nutrient intakes known to be important for gestation. Aims: Our aim was to assess the correlation between dietary quality scores derived from a novel online dietary assessment tool (DAT) and nutrient intake data derived from the previously validated Willett Food Frequency Questionnaire (WFFQ). Methods: 524 women completed the validated semi-quantitive WFFQ and online DAT questionnaire in their first trimester. Spearman correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to test associations between energy-adjusted and energy-unadjusted nutrient intakes derived from the WFFQ, and diet and nutrition scores obtained from the DAT. Results: Positive correlations were observed between respondents' diet and nutrition scores derived from the online DAT, and their folate, vitamin B, iron, calcium, zinc and iodine intakes/MJ of energy consumed derived from the WFFQ (all P < 0.001). Negative correlations were observed between participants' diet and nutrition scores and their total energy intake ( P = 0.02), and their percentage energy from fat, saturated fat, and non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) (all P ≤ 0.001). Median dietary fibre, beta carotene, folate, vitamin C and vitamin D intakes derived from the WFFQ, generally increased across quartiles of diet and nutrition score (all P < 0.001). Conclusions: Scores generated by this web-based DAT correlate with important nutrient intakes in pregnancy, supporting its use in estimating overall dietary quality among obstetric populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Adherence to a Mediterranean diet pattern may be associated with lower asthma prevalence in children. We sought to corroborate these findings in Peruvian children. Methods: This case-control study included children of ages 9-19 years living in Lima, Peru. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was completed and diet pattern was analyzed using a modified Mediterranean diet score (MDS). Primary analysis investigated the relationship between MDS and asthma status. Maternal education, age, sex, and body mass index category were included in multivariate model. Secondary outcomes included asthma control, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), allergic rhinitis, and atopic status. Results: 287 participants with asthma and 96 controls without asthma completed a FFQ. Mean age was 13.5 years. According to the asthma control test (ACT), 86 % of those with asthma were controlled (score >19). MDS scores ranged 6-18 (median 15). In adjusted analysis, being above the median MDS scores was associated with decreased odds of asthma [OR = 0.55, 95 % CI (0.33, 0.92), p = 0.02]. Among children whose mothers completed secondary education, being above the median MDS significantly decreased the odds of asthma [OR = 0.31, 95 % CI (0.14, 0.71), p < 0.01], whereas among those whose mothers did not complete secondary education there was no protective effect [OR = 0.86, 95 % CI (0.43, 1.7), p = 0.66]. There was no association between MDS scores and asthma control, FEV1, allergic rhinitis, or atopic status. Conclusion: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was inversely associated with having asthma among children in Lima, Peru. This effect was strongest among children with better educated mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies focusing on identification of dietary risk factors for hyperuricemia reported controversial findings. Moreover, evidence for relationship between hyperuricemia and eating and cooking habits remained scanty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between hyperuricemia and dietary risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1583 participants in a Beijing community. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests were also performed. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 14.1 % (20.2 % for males and 7.4 % for females). Among the 1372 subjects included for analysis, 720 (52.5 %) were males and the mean age was 37.7 years. For males, statistically significant associations between hyperuricemia and tea intake, breakfast and midnight snack consumption were found, with an odds ratio of 0.56 (high vs. low), 2.14 (often vs. always) and 0.52 (rarely vs. always), respectively. Smoking, fatty liver disease, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting blood glucose were significantly related to increased serum uric acid (SUA), with a coefficient of 20.06, 11.52, 7.29, 18.97 and 13.37 on SUA, respectively. For females, no statistically significant associations between hyperuricemia and dietary risk factors were observed. In summary, hyperuricemia is highly prevalent among the adult participants in this Chinese community, especially for men. High tea intake and consuming midnight snack rarely are significantly related to decreased risk of hyperuricemia, while often-eating breakfast is associated with increased risk of hyperuricemia compared with always-eating breakfast in males. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings and to establish dietary recommendations for the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the relative validity of a multicultural FFQ used to derive nutrient intake estimates in a community dwelling cohort of younger and older men and women compared with those derived from 3 day (3d) diet records during the same time-frame. Design: Cross-sectional analyses. Setting: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) conducted in the Baltimore, MD and District of Columbia areas. Participants: A subset (n=468, aged 26 to 95 years (y), 47% female, 65% non-Hispanic white) from the BLSA, with complete data for nutrient estimates from a FFQ and 3d diet records. Measurements: Pearson's correlation coefficients (energy adjusted and de-attenuated) for intakes of energy and 26 nutrients estimated from the FFQ and the mean of 3d diet records were calculated in a cross-sectional analysis. Rankings of individuals based on FFQ for various nutrient intakes were compared to corresponding rankings based on the average of the 3d diet records. Bland Altman plots were examined for a visual representation of agreement between both assessment methods. All analyses were stratified by sex and age (above and below 65 y). Results: Median nutrient intake estimates tended to be higher from the FFQ compared to average 3d diet records. Energy adjusted and de-attenuated correlations between FFQ intake estimates and records ranged from 0.23 (sodium intake in men) to 0.81 (alcohol intake in women). The FFQ classified more than 70 percent of participants in either the same or adjacent quartile categories for all nutrients examined. Bland Altman plots demonstrated good agreement between the assessment methods for most nutrients. Conclusion: This FFQ provides reasonably valid estimates of dietary intakes of younger and older participants of the BLSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used Spearman's rho correlations and descriptive statistics (α = 0.05) to explore relationships between maternal eating behaviors (disinhibition, cognitive restraint, and susceptibility to hunger) and frequency of consumption of specific food groups (dairy, fruits, vegetables, meats) in a rural Mexican-American population. Analyses were based on the mothers' responses to the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and Willett's Food Frequency Questionnaire. Cognitive restraint was associated with greater frequency of consumption of vegetables, whereas disinhibition was associated with less frequent consumption of fruit. Susceptibility to hunger may have indirectly influenced the latter by enhancing the level of disinhibition. Mean frequency of consumption of vegetables (1-3 times per month) and fruits (once per week) was less than Healthy People 2020 targets. Additional research is needed to better understand factors contributing to these eating behaviors and patterns. To do so will require developing diet assessment tools that reflect foods typically consumed by this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clarification of the putative etiologic role of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) in the development of cancer requires a validated assessment tool for dietary HAAs. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in estimating HAA intake, using 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5- b]pyridine (PhIP) level in human hair as the reference method. Methods: We first updated analytical methods of PhIP using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS/MS) and measured 44 fur samples from nine rats from a feeding study as part-verification of the quantitative performance of LC-ESI/MS/MS. We next measured PhIP level in human hair samples from a validation study of the FFQ ( n = 65). HAA intake from the FFQ was estimated using information on intake from six fish items and seven meat items and data on HAA content in each food item. Correlation coefficients between PhIP level in human hair and HAA intake from the FFQ were calculated. Results: The animal feeding study of PhIP found a significant dose-response relationship between dosage and PhIP in rat fur. Mean level was 53.8 pg/g hair among subjects with values over the limit of detection (LOD) ( n = 57). We found significant positive correlation coefficients between PhIP in human hair and HAA intake from the FFQ, with Spearman rank correlation coefficients of 0.35 for all subjects, 0.21 for subjects with over LOD values, and 0.34 for subjects with over limit of quantification. Conclusion: Findings from the validation study suggest that the FFQ is reasonably valid for the assessment of HAA intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate how long-term dietary intake of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3 PUFAs), estimated by repeated food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) over 15 years, is correlated with LCn-3 PUFAs in adipose tissue (AT). Methods: Subcutaneous adipose tissue was obtained in 2003-2004 (AT-03) from 239 randomly selected women, aged 55-75 years, after completion of a 96-item FFQ (FFQ-03). All participants had previously returned an identical FFQ in 1997 (FFQ-97) and a 67-item version in 1987-1990 (FFQ-87). Pearson product-moment correlations were used to evaluate associations between intake of total and individual LCn-3 PUFAs as estimated by the three FFQ assessments and AT-03 content (% of total fatty acids). Results: FFQ-estimated mean relative intake of LCn-3 PUFAs (% of total fat intake) increased between all three assessments (FFQ-87, 0.55 ± 0.34; FFQ-97, 0.74 ± 0.64; FFQ-03, 0.88 ± 0.56). Validity, in terms of Pearson correlations between FFQ-03 estimates and AT-03 content, was 0.41 (95 % CI 0.30-0.51) for total LCn-3 PUFA and ranged from 0.29 to 0.48 for individual fatty acids; lower correlation was observed among participants with higher percentage body fat. With regard to long-term intake estimates, past dietary intake was also correlated with AT-03 content, with correlation coefficients in the range of 0.21-0.33 and 0.21-0.34 for FFQ-97 and FFQ-87, respectively. The correlations were improved by using average estimates from two or more FFQ assessments. Exclusion of fish oil supplement users (14 %) did not alter the correlations. Conclusion: These data indicate reasonable validity of FFQ-based estimates of long-term (up to 15 years) LCn-3 PUFA intake, justifying their use in studies of diet-disease associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to validate a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), specifically designed to retrospectively estimate dietary intake and supplement consumption during the first 2 years of life in children from resource poor households in semi-rural Mexico. The FFQ querying about diet during the first 2 years of life was administered to mothers of children ( N = 84), who participated in a prospective study 3-5 years earlier, in which complementary feeding practice questionnaires and 24-h recall (24hrR) were collected at several time points during the first 2 years of life to evaluate dietary and vitamin supplement intake. The resulting FFQ data were compared to intake data collected during the original study using Spearman correlations, deattenuated correlations and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Total energy intake, as estimated by the retrospective and original instruments, did not differ in the second year (Yr2); correlations between the measures were significant ( r = 0.40, p < 0.001). The 24hrR and FFQ-Yr2 were significantly correlated for dietary intake of vitamins B6, B12 ( p < 0.001) and folate ( p < 0.01); however, after including vitamin supplement intake, the two dietary instruments were correlated only for vitamins A and B12 ( p < 0.05). The FFQ provides a reasonable estimate of a child's dietary intake of energy and key micronutrients during the second year of life, and permits accurate ranking of intake 3-5 years after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Dietary assessment is crucial for monitoring nutritional status of young children. This study applied a modified Chinese food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess nutrient intakes of young picky-eating Hong Kong children. Methods: Nutrient intakes were obtained by FFQ and 3-day food record (3DFR) in 29 picky-eating children aged 44.8±9.2 months who participated in a randomised controlled trial of a new milk formula. Results: When compared with 3DFR, FFQ over-reported energy intake by 283 kcal (26.5%) at baseline and 237 kcal (21.4%) at end-of-study, and also overestimated intakes of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. At baseline, FFQ and 3DFR classified 34.4%-65.5% of subjects into the same tertiles for most nutrients. These methods showed weak-to-moderate agreement in measuring most nutrients, with 3DFR showing a trend towards a systematic increase in the differences with increasing nutrient intake. Conclusion: Our FFQ shows promising results for assessing nutrient intakes in picky-eating Chinese preschoolers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess data on the consumption frequency of some food items and the places they are purchased, especially by adults and elderly subjects, and finally to determine their food preference using cluster and correspondence analyses as a diagnosis and prevention factor. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Town of Serranópolis do Iguaçú, State of Paraná, Brazil, city with 4,854 inhabitants of which 22% are over 50 years old. Participants: Two hundred and ninety five randomly selected subjects (96 men and 199 women), between 51 and 91 years old. Measurements: A socio-demographic and food frequency questionnaire was applied via home visits including questions on socioeconomic, anthopometric and health characteristics concerning the consumption frequency of 45 food items and the places they were purchased, using a five point category scale to obtain consumption data as well. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the Quetelet Index and compared with the World Health Organization Report Consultation on obesity. The cluster and correspondence statistical analysis were used to determine their food preference. Results: From the correspondence mapping (which explained 89.1 % of the variance), it was possible to determine aspects regarding the non-consumption of instant soups, frozen vegetables, cookies, crystallized fruits, canned fruit, distilled drinks and beer. Conclusions: The dimensional representation structure demonstrated that the population of Serranópolis, who were 62 % overweight, preferred high fat content products, suggesting a reevaluation of their eating habits in the expectation of preventing non transmissible chronic diseases. The value given to farm production in Serranópolis do Iguaçú was also observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the relative validity of a population specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and evaluate the effectiveness of the instrument for assessing nutritional risk in older adults. Design: A cross-over design with participants completing two different dietary assessment instruments in random order. Setting: The Geisinger Rural Aging Study (GRAS), a longitudinal study of over 20,000 adults living in the central, northern and eastern counties of Pennsylvania. Participants: A subset of GRAS consisting of 245 older adults (60% women) ranging in age from 70 to 95 years. Measurements: Energy and nutrient intakes were assessed from two instruments: a population specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and four 24-hour dietary recalls conducted over a two week period. Results: Pearson correlation coefficients between the FFQ and dietary recalls for most nutrients were 0.5 or higher which suggests that the FFQ provided relatively valid estimates of macro and micronutrient intakes examined. Bland-Altman plots were generated to examine the agreement between instruments. Data are shown for energy, folate and zinc with close agreement at lower intakes indicative of risk for folate and zinc. Sensitivity results also showed that the FFQ was able to correctly classify individuals adequately at risk for most nutrients examined. Conclusion: This population specific FFQ appears to be a valid instrument for use in in evaluating risk for many nutrients that are of particular concern in older adults residing throughout many predominately rural counties in Pennsylvania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alcohol-breast cancer association has been established using alcohol intake measurements from Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ). For some nutrients diet diary measurements are more highly correlated with true intake compared with FFQ measurements, but it is unknown whether this is true for alcohol. A case-control study (656 breast cancer cases, 1905 matched controls) was sampled from four cohorts in the UK Dietary Cohort Consortium. Alcohol intake was measured prospectively using FFQs and 4- or 7-day diet diaries. Both relied on fixed portion sizes allocated to given beverage types, but those used to obtain FFQ measurements were lower. FFQ measurements were therefore on average lower and to enable fair comparison the FFQ was 'calibrated' using diet diary portion sizes. Diet diaries gave more zero measurements, demonstrating the challenge of distinguishing never-from episodic-consumers using short term instruments. To use all information, two combined measurements were calculated. The first is an average of the two measurements with special treatment of zeros. The second is the expected true intake given both measurements, calculated using a measurement error model. After confounder adjustment the odds ratio (OR) per 10 g/day of alcohol intake was 1.05 (95 % CI 0.98, 1.13) using diet diaries, and 1.13 (1.02, 1.24) using FFQs. The calibrated FFQ measurement and combined measurements 1 and 2 gave ORs 1.10 (1.03, 1.18), 1.09 (1.01, 1.18), 1.09 (0.99,1.20), respectively. The association was modified by HRT use, being stronger among users versus non-users. In summary, using an alcohol measurement from a diet diary at one time point gave attenuated associations compared with FFQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to estimate the association between dietary intake of cadmium, a carcinogenic heavy metal, and risk of invasive postmenopausal breast cancer. Methods: Study subjects were 30,543 postmenopausal women in the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort who completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at baseline (2000-2002). Dietary cadmium consumption was estimated by combining FFQ responses with US Food and Drug Administration data on food cadmium content. Incidence of invasive breast cancer was ascertained through linkage of the cohort to the western Washington Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry through 31 December 2009. Cox regression was applied to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for breast cancer with increasing dietary cadmium intake, adjusted for total energy intake, smoking history, consumption of vegetables, potatoes, and whole grains, multivitamin use, education, race, body mass index, physical activity, age at first birth, postmenopausal hormone use, and mammography. Results: Vegetables and grains together contributed an average of 66 % of estimated dietary cadmium. During a mean of 7.5 years of follow-up, 1,026 invasive postmenopausal breast cancers were identified. Among 899 cases with complete covariate information, no evidence of an association between dietary cadmium intake and breast cancer risk was observed (aHR (95 % CI), highest to lowest quartile cadmium: 1.00 (0.72-1.41), p = 0.95). No evidence was found for interactions between dietary cadmium and breast cancer risk factors, smoking habits, or total intake of calcium, iron, or zinc from diet, supplements, and multivitamins. Conclusions: This study does not support the hypothesis that dietary cadmium intake is a risk factor for breast cancer. However, non-differential measurement error in the estimate of cadmium intake is likely the most important factor that could have obscured an association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Limited information exists on the validity of dietary information given by elderly people on their past diet. Here we test the relative validity of a food frequency questionnaire asking older persons about their midlife diet. Design: Retrospective food intake of 56-72-year-old subjects was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire designed for the AGES-Reykjavik Study (AGES-FFQ), an epidemiological study of older individuals. Results were compared with detailed dietary data gathered from the same individuals 18-19 years previously, i.e., in midlife, as part of a national cohort. Spearman correlation and cross-classifications were used to assess the ability of the AGES-FFQ to rank subjects according to their intake. Setting: Nationwide, Iceland. Participants: Subjects, born 1937-1952 (n=174), who participated in the 1990 Icelandic National Dietary Survey. Measurements: Dietary intake, estimated by the AGES-FFQ (2008-2009), and dietary history obtained from the 1990 Icelandic National Dietary Survey as a reference method. Results: The strongest correlation between the AGES-FFQ and the reference method was found for cod liver oil, r=0.53, p<0.001 and r=0.56, p<0.001, for men and women, respectively. For men the corresponding correlation coefficient for milk and dairy products was r=0.43, p<0.001. The correlation coefficients were lower but within a reasonably acceptable range (r=0.26-0.40) for meat, fish and potatoes for both genders, as well as fresh fruits and milk/dairy products for women and whole-wheat bread, oatmeal/muesli and blood/liver-sausage for men. No correlation was found between the AGES-FFQ and the dietary history for rye bread and vegetable consumption. Subjects were categorized into five groups according to level of consumption by the two methods. Cross-classification showed that 16-59% were classified into same group and 43-91% into same or adjacent group, 0-14% were grossly misclassified into opposite groups. Conclusion: The AGES-FFQ on midlife diet was found suitable to rank individuals by their intake of several important food groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/hypothesis: To estimate the effect of weight loss on fecal incontinence (FI) severity among overweight and obese women with urinary incontinence, we analyzed data from women randomized to a weight loss intervention or control condition. Methods: The modified Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI) was administered at 6, 12, and 18 months in 338 women. Repeated measures analyses identified factors associated with improved FISI scores among women with baseline scores >0. Results: FISI scores improved in 45 (13%) across all time points among the 291 women (87%) completing the trial. Improved scores were associated with a one-point lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) score, p < 0.01. Improved liquid stool FI frequency was associated with ≥5 kg weight loss ( p = 0.001), 10-g increase in fiber intake ( p = 0.05), and decreased LUTS ( p = 0.003). Conclusions: FI severity improved with weight loss. Women with liquid stool FI losing at least 5 kg and/or increased dietary fiber intake had improved FI frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To investigate the reproducibility of food consumption frequencies derived from the food frequency section of the Children's Eating Habits Questionnaire (CEHQ-FFQ) that was developed and used in the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) project to assess food habits in 2- to 9-year-old European children.Design and methods:From a subsample of 258 children who participated in the IDEFICS baseline examination, parental questionnaires of the CEHQ were collected twice to assess reproducibility of questionnaire results from 0 to 354 days after the first examination. Weighted Cohen's kappa coefficients (κ) and Spearman's correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to assess agreement between the first and second questionnaires for each food item of the CEHQ-FFQ. Stratification was performed for sex, age group, geographical region and length of period between the first and second administrations. Fisher's Z transformation was applied to test correlation coefficients for significant differences between strata.Results:For all food items analysed, weighted Cohen's kappa coefficients (κ) and Spearman's correlation coefficients (r) were significant and positive (P<0.001). Reproducibility was lowest for diet soft drinks (κ=0.23, r=0.32) and highest for sweetened milk (κ=0.68, r=0.76). Correlation coefficients were comparable to those of previous studies on FFQ reproducibility in children and adults. Stratification did not reveal systematic differences in reproducibility by sex and age group. Spearman's correlation coefficients differed significantly between northern and southern European countries for 10 food items. In nine of them, the lower respective coefficient was still high enough to conclude acceptable reproducibility. As expected, longer time (>128 days) between the first and second administrations resulted in a generally lower, yet still acceptable, reproducibility.Conclusion:Results indicate that the CEHQ-FFQ gives reproducible estimates of the consumption frequency of 43 food items from 14 food groups in European children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the relationship between dietary patterns and breast cancer risk among Chinese women. Methods: Four hundred and thirty-eight cases with histologically confirmed primary breast cancer and 438 controls were consecutively recruited. Cases were frequency matched to controls on 5-year age group and rural-urban residence. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake by face-to-face interviews. Dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis. Multivariate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression adjusted for various potential confounders. Results: Two diet patterns were identified: vegetable-fruit-soy-milk-poultry-fish pattern and refined grain-meat-pickle pattern. After adjustment for confounders, a 74% decreased risk was observed among women in the highest quartile of the vegetable-fruit-soy-milk-poultry-fish dietary pattern relative to the lowest quartile (OR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.17-0.42). The refined grain-meat-pickle pattern was positively associated with breast cancer risk (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.53, 4.34). Women with a high intake of the vegetable-fruit-soy-milk-poultry-fish pattern and a low intake of the refined grain-meat-pickle pattern showed a decreased risk of breast cancer (adjusted OR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.17-0.41). Conclusions: These results indicated that a diet characterized by a high consumption of vegetable/fruit/soy/milk/poultry/fish and a low consumption of refined grain/red meat/pickle is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer in Chinese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:To evaluate the role of ethnic foods as predictors of intake levels of selected nutrients that are important during pregnancy among the Bedouin Arab minority population in southern Israel, and to compare the main food predictors for Bedouin intakes of the selected nutrients with those for the region's Jewish majority population.Subjects/Methods:Ethnic foods/recipes (n=122) reported in the Bedouin Nutrition Study (BNS) were added to a preexisting, validated Israeli food composition table using European Food Information Resource standard criteria. Food items reported by the 519 BNS participants were combined into146 food groups that distinguished between existing foods and new ethnic recipes and were entered into a stepwise multiple regression model to identify the main predictors of intake levels of the selected nutrients. The results were compared with those of an identical analysis for the selected nutrients using 24 h recall data from the majority Jewish population.Results:Over 80% of the BNS between-person variability in the intake of all selected nutrients was explained by 34 food groups, of which 13 (38.2%) were ethnic foods. Homemade whole wheat bread was a main predictor of intake levels for five of the eight selected nutrients, and other ethnic foods/recipes (for example, za'atar, leafy dark green vegetables and camel milk) emerged as predictors of iron, folate, calcium and ω-3 fatty acid intakes. Breads explained 60 and 44% of the between-person variation, and 38 and 36% of the total intakes of iron and zinc intakes in the BNS sample, respectively, whereas for the Jewish population, animal sources and fortified foods predominated as main predictors and contributors of these nutrients.Conclusions:The addition of ethnic foods to food composition databases is important, as some of these foods are main predictors of nutrient intake levels in ethnic minority populations. In turn, this should facilitate the development of more sensitive dietary assessment tools and more effective diet-based health interventions for ethnic minorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the association between consumption of dairy products and calcium intake and risk of breast cancer risk according to menopausal status.Methods: In a population-based prospective cohort study of 64,904 Norwegian women followed from 1996/1999 through 2006, we examined total dairy consumption and consumption of various dairy products in relation to pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer risk. We also examined breast cancer in relation to calcium intake and to milk consumption during childhood and performed additional analyses corrected for measurement errors in the dietary data. In total, 218 premenopausal and 1,189 postmenopausal incident breast cancer cases were diagnosed during follow-up.Results: Total dairy, adult, and childhood milk consumption was not associated with either pre- or postmenopausal breast cancer risk. Premenopausal women with the highest consumption of white cheese had half the risk of breast cancer compared to those with the lowest consumption (hazard rate ratio in the 4th quartile vs. the 1st quartile 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.29-0.87). Total calcium intake tended to be inversely related to premenopausal (hazard rate ratio in the 4th quartile vs. the 1st quartile 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.39-1.08) and postmenopausal breast cancer (hazard rate ratio in the 4th quartile vs. the 1st quartile 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.70-1.04). Correcting for measurement errors did not alter the results substantially, nor did exclusion of early cancer cases.Conclusion: Dairy consumption is not strongly related to breast cancer risk in this prospective study. A non-significant negative association between calcium intake and breast cancer risk was seen, particularly among premenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the major dietary patterns of two age cohorts of women, to determine to the extent to which the dietary patterns differ between the cohorts and to assess whether they vary according to sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics and patterns of nutrient intake.Method:Dietary intake was assessed using an 80-item food frequency questionnaire for women aged 50-55 years (n=10 150; 'middle age') in 2001 and aged 25-30 years (n=7371; 'young') in 2003, from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Factor analysis using principal component extraction was used to identify dietary patterns, and a pattern score was calculated from the consumption of the food items identified with each dietary pattern. Associations between the dietary pattern scores and sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics and nutrient intakes were investigated using regression analysis.Results:Six dietary patterns were identified and were labelled: cooked vegetables; fruit; Mediterranean-style; processed meat, meat and takeaway; reduced fat dairy; and high-fat and sugar foods. Regression analysis revealed that healthier dietary patterns were significantly associated with other favourable health-related behaviours, higher socioeconomic status and living in urban areas (P-values <0.05).Conclusions:In spite of differences in the level of consumption of individual food items, the similarity in dietary patterns across two generations of women suggests that policies and interventions to improve diet should focus on social and economic factors and general health-related behaviour rather than different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological studies have suggested that excessive alcohol intake increases colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. However, findings regarding tumour subsites and sex differences have been inconsistent.Methods: We investigated the prospective associations between alcohol intake on overall and site- and sex-specific CRC risk. Analyses were conducted on 579 CRC cases and 1996 matched controls nested within the UK Dietary Cohort Consortium using standardised data obtained from food diaries as a main nutritional method and repeated using data from food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).Results: Compared with individuals in the lightest category of drinkers (>0-<5 g per day), the multivariable odds ratios of CRC were 1.16 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.88, 1.53) for non-drinkers, 0.91 (95% CI: 0.67, 1.24) for drinkers with 5-<15 g per day, 0.90 (95% CI: 0.65, 1.25) for drinkers with 15-<30 g per day, 1.02 (95% CI: 0.66, 1.58) for drinkers with 30-<45 g per day and 1.19 (95% CI: 0.75, 1.91) for drinkers with >or=45 g per day. No clear associations were observed between site-specific CRC risk and alcohol intake in either sex. Analyses using FFQ showed similar results.Conclusion: We found no significantly increased risk of CRC up to 30 g per day of alcohol intake within the UK Dietary Cohort Consortium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:B vitamins have been implicated in major chronic diseases but results have been inconsistent. This study evaluated the accuracy of dietary intakes of folate, vitamin B12, riboflavin and vitamin B6 as measured by the Northern Sweden Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) against repeated 24-h recalls (24HR) and plasma levels, taking into consideration the MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism.Subjects/Methods:B vitamin intakes assessed by a semi-quantitative FFQ designed to measure the intake over the previous year were compared with those from 10 24HR, as well as to plasma levels of folate and vitamin B12, in randomly selected men (n=96) and women (n=99) aged 30–60 years. FFQ-based B-vitamin intakes were also compared with plasma levels of B-vitamins and with MTHFR 677C4T genotype in 878 men, aged 40–61 years.Results:Intakes of vitamins B12 and riboflavin were similar, whereas folate and B6 intakes were 16–27% higher, as estimated by FFQ versus 24HR. Spearman correlation coefficients between the two methods ranged from 0.31 to 0.63 (all P0.002), and were lowest for vitamin B12. Intakes estimated by FFQ were correlated with plasma levels, but coefficients were lower (range: 0.13–0.33), particularly for vitamin B12 in men (0.15–0.18). Folate intake was not correlated with plasma levels in subjects with the MTHFR 677 T/T genotype.Conclusions:The validity of the Northern Sweden FFQ for assessing B vitamin intake is similar to that of many other FFQs used in large-scale studies. The FFQ is suitable for ranking individuals by intake of folate, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and to a lesser extent vitamin B12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods and results are presented for an arsenic exposure assessment integral to an epidemiological case–control study of arsenic and cancer—the European Commission funded ASHRAM (Arsenic Health Risk Assessment and Molecular Epidemiology) study carried out in some counties of Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. The exposure history of each participant ( N = 1,392) was constructed by taking into account how much water they consumed (as water, in drinks and in food), sources of drinking water in their various residences over their lifetime, and the concentrations of arsenic in their various water supplies measured by Hydride Generation-Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (HG-AAS). Concentrations of arsenic in previous water supplies were either derived from contemporary analyses of the same source, or from routine historical data from measurements performed by the authorities in each country. Using this approach, 80% of the recorded lifetime residential history was matched to an arsenic concentration. Seven indices of current, life time, and peak exposure were calculated. The exposure indices were all log-normally distributed and the mean and median lifetime average concentrations were in Hungary 14.7 and 13.3 μg l−1, Romania 3.8 and 0.7 μg l−1 and in Slovakia 1.9 and 0.8 μg l−1, respectively. Overall 25% of the population had average concentrations over 10 μg l−1 and 8% with exposure over 50 μg l−1. Careful assessment of arsenic in drinking water supplies (both current and previous) enabled the majority of study participants’ cumulative lifetime of potential exposure to arsenic in residential water to be characterised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:To investigate the reproducibility of the HELENA Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) developed as a basis for an online tailored intervention and to compare the FFQ with four computerized 24-h recalls.Subjects/methods:A convenience sample of 48 Belgian–Flemish adolescents completed four computerized 24-h recalls, the FFQ and a retest 1–2 weeks later. Correlations, the Wilcoxon's signed rank test and Bland and Altman's plots were used to compare the intakes of 22 food groups, energy (kcal), fibre (g, g/1000 kcal), vitamin C (mg, mg/1000 kcal), calcium (mg, mg/1000 kcal), iron (mg, mg/1000 kcal) and fat (g, % from total energy).Results:Reproducibility correlations were good (0.46–0.90). De-attenuated correlations between both methods were high (0.51) for all nutrients and nutrient densities, except for fibre (g), vitamin C (mg) and percent energy from fat (respectively 0.23, 0.40 and 0.30). On a food group level correlations were significant (runadjusted>0.3) for most (17/22) food groups. No systematic differences were found between test and retest; comparison with the recalls resulted in a significantly higher intake of bread, breakfast cereals, other snacks, vegetables, potatoes, coffee and tea, alcoholic beverages, energy, and most nutrients. No significant difference was found for calcium, whereas an underestimation was found for nutrient density of calcium and fat.Conclusions:The overestimation in seven food groups, resulting in an overestimation of energy, fibre, iron and vitamin C, and underestimation of percentage energy from fat, needs to be considered when the estimated intakes are used for tailored feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing numbers of studies have shown that hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been found to be negatively associated with the vitamin B group, especially folate and cobalamin. Because of the relative scarcity of fruits and vegetables in Mongolian foods, and the high cardiovascular diseases rate in Mongolia, we examined homocysteine level and its relation with atherosclerotic change in middle-aged Mongolian women. This cross-sectional study included 79 female asymptomatic residents of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Besides analysis of homocysteine and chemistry tests, participants were interviewed and underwent physical and Doppler ultrasound examination of extracranial vessels. The mean homocysteine level was 9.87 ± 3.6 μmol/l, and the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles were 2.2 μmol/l and 19.9 μmol/l. Participants with abnormal Doppler ultrasound finding had significantly higher homocysteine levels (12.8 ± 4.5 μmol/l vs 8.7 ± 2.3 μmol/l, P < 0.001) and homocysteine was significantly associated with having atherosclerotic change (odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.42–3.49, P < 0.001) after adjustment for age, low-density lipoprotein, diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index. Hyperhomocysteinemia was found to be significantly associated with atherosclerotic change in female Mongolian adults. Further studies are necessary to determine factors associated with homocysteine elevation among the Mongolian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To develop a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that can be used among young women in Southampton to assess compliance with a prudent dietary pattern characterized by high consumption of wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetables, and low consumption of sugar, white bread, and red and processed meat.Methods:Diet was assessed using a 100-item interviewer-administered FFQ in 6129 non-pregnant women aged 20–34 years. In total, 94 of these women were re-interviewed 2 years later using the same FFQ. Subsequently, diet was assessed in 378 women attending SureStart Children's Centres in the Nutrition and Well-being Study (NWS) using a 20-item FFQ. The 20 foods included were those that characterized the prudent dietary pattern.Results:The 20-item prudent diet score was highly correlated with the full 100-item score (r=0.94) in the Southampton Women's Survey (SWS). Both scores were correlated with red blood cell folate (r=0.28 for the 100-item score and r=0.25 for the 20-item score). Among the women re-interviewed after 2 years, the change in prudent diet score was correlated with change in red cell folate for both the 20-item (rS=0.31) and 100-item scores (rS=0.32). In the NWS a strong association between the 20-item prudent diet score and educational attainment (r=0.41) was observed, similar to that seen in the SWS (r=0.47).Conclusions:The prudent diet pattern describes a robust axis of variation in diet. A 20-item FFQ based on the foods that characterize the prudent diet pattern has clear advantages in terms of time and resources, and is a helpful tool to characterize the diets of young women in Southampton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss methods for dealing with incomplete-data in the United Kingdom Women’s Cohort Study. We demonstrate by example how important it is to address the issues related to missing data with statistical integrity, illustrate the deficiencies of a data-reduction and a single-imputation method, and discuss how the method of multiple imputation overcomes them. Although the method entails some complexity, the computational activities can be organized in such a way that efficient analyses can be conducted by analysts who are not acquainted with all the details of the imputation method and who wish to rely on software they use and regard as standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the relationship between dietary habits and concentrations of 3-phenoxybonzoic acid (3-PBA) in the urine of middle-aged and elderly people in Japan. The study to investigate the impact of the ingestion of pesticides like pyrethoid in the daily diet of the elderly. The study conducted in the rural area of Hokkaido and urine samples of respondents were investigated. The results showed a connection between 3-PBA concentration and tomato consumption.

Background/Objectives:Milk and dairy products are the main sources of iodine in the Norwegian diet. This is due to a high consumption of milk and dairy products combined with a relatively high concentration of iodine in milk because of mandatory iodine fortification of cow fodder. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between 24-h urinary iodine excretion and estimated dietary intake, and to explore the use of 24-h urinary iodine excretion as a possible biomarker for the intake of milk and dairy products when assessing the validity of a new food frequency questionnaire for pregnant women participating the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).Subject/Methods119 women participated in a validation study. Iodine was analyzed in 24-h urine. Dietary intakes were estimated by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a 4-day weighed food diary (FD). Using linear regression, predictors of urinary iodine excretion were identified. The triangular method was applied to calculate validity coefficients.Results:Significant predictors of 24-h urinary iodine excretion were: intake of dairy products, iodine-containing supplements and intake of fruit/vegetables. Fish/seafood intake and time of the year influenced 24-h urinary iodine excretion, although not significantly. The validity coefficients observed for total intake of dairy products were 0.65, 0.94 and 0.52 for the FFQ, the FD and the 24-h urinary iodine excretion, respectively.Conclusions:The present study showed that 24-h urinary iodine excretion may be a useful biomarker for validating the intake of milk and dairy products in pregnant Norwegian women.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009) 63, 347–354; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602952; published online 5 December 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:To describe the use of dietary assessment methods in a cohort study.Subjects:The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) based in Bristol, UK, a cohort of children born in 1991/1992 and their parents.Methods and Results:Data were collected about maternal and paternal diet, breastfeeding, weaning and childhood diet by both food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and unweighed diet records (children only). Other questionnaires have covered socioeconomic background and eating behaviours. Nutrient and food group intakes were calculated from both FFQ and diet records. These were used singly and in combination to assess the contribution of diet to various growth and development outcomes in the children and in relation to socioeconomic position and other behaviours. Both methods provided important contributions to knowledge and have enhanced each other, allowing the development of the assessment instruments as experience in their use was gained. Statistical analysis methods such as the use of dietary patterns to summarize the diet were explored.Conclusions:Longitudinal cohort studies are greatly enhanced if dietary assessment methods are built into their design. The use of more than one method of dietary assessment can increase the scientific usefulness of a study.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009) 63, S38–S44; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2008.63 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:Investigate dietary salt intake trends by gender, and their associations with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in Geneva, Switzerland.Subjects/Methods:Continuous surveillance of the Geneva general adult (35–74 years) population for 12 years (1993–2004) using a validated, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in random, cross-sectional, representative samples (6688 men, 6647 women). Dietary salt intake assessment by FFQ excluded discretionary salt, but was calibrated on total salt intake using an independent validation substudy of 100 volunteers who additionally provided 24-h urine collections.Results:Quartiles (mean) of calibrated dietary salt intake (g per day) were 9.9, 10.5, 11.2 (10.6) in men, and 7.0, 7.8, 8.9 (8.1) in women and were above current recommendations. Quartiles (mean) of salt density (g MJ−1) were 0.99, 1.16, 1.39 (1.23) in men, and 0.98, 1.12, 1.30 (1.17) in women. Both measures were stable during the 12-year surveillance period, regardless of hypertension treatment. Salt-density differences between cardiovascular disease risk factor subgroups were moderate. Salt density increased with age and body mass index. The main dietary non-discretionary salt food sources (men/women: 47/48%) were breads (17/17%), cheeses (11/10%), meat and meat products (8/7%), soups (6/9%) and ready-to-eat foods (5/5%).Conclusions:Salt intakes from all sources for the Geneva, and perhaps the Swiss adult population are above current recommendations. The quantitative and qualitative data provided in this paper could be used to develop and implement strategies for salt-intake reduction in Switzerland.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009) 63, 155–164; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602922; published online 10 October 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To measure the validity and reproducibility of the NORBAGREEN food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).Subjects/methods:In Finland, 125 subjects aged 25–64 years sampled from the five main regions of the FINDIET 2002 Study and in Lithuania, 99 citizens of Kaunas aged 19–75 years participated in the study. Reference methods for the FFQ were two 3-day FFQs in Finland and four 24-h recalls in Lithuania. The FFQ was repeated after 6–8 months in both countries. The outcome of the FFQ1 was correlated with the outcome of the reference methods and with the outcome of repeated FFQ2. Cross-classification of food intakes by FFQ1 and the reference methods was examined in tertiles.Results:Validity correlations (FFQ vs the reference method, Spearman's correlation) were for vegetables, fruit and bread 0.50 (P<0.01), 0.53 (P<0.01) and 0.54 (P<0.01) in Finland; and 0.55 (P<0.01), 0.31 (P<0.01) and 0.51 (P<0.01) in Lithuania, respectively. Correlations were smaller for potatoes and fish. The overall proportion categorized in the same or adjacent intake tertiles with the two instruments was over 83% in both countries. Reproducibility correlations varied between 0.51 and 0.75 in the Finnish study, and between 0.51 and 0.83 in the Lithuanian study.Conclusions:The NORBAGREEN FFQ can be used to rank subjects according to vegetable, fruit and bread consumption. Questions on fish and potato consumption need to be developed further.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009) 63, 141–149; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602893; published online 5 September 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To evaluate the validity of the Inter99 food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) compared with a 28-days' diet history and biomarkers.Subjects:A random sample of 13 016 individuals were drawn from a general population and invited for a health screening programme. Participation rate was 52.5%. All high-risk individuals were re-invited for assessment after 1 and 3 years and completed a 198-item FFQ at all three occasions. Participants attending for 3 years follow-up were invited to participate in the validation study, including a 28-days' diet history, a 24-h urine collection and a fasting blood sample. Overall, 264 subjects participated.Results:Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between the two dietary methods ranged from 0.31(β-carotene) to 0.64 (fruits) in men and from 0.31 (polyunsaturated fat and sodium) to 0.64 (fruits) for women. The proportion of individuals classified in the same or adjacent quintiles were, on average, 72% for men and 69% for women. Gross misclassification was found on average in 2%. The correlation coefficients of the residuals ranged from 0.27 (sodium) to 0.61 (fruits) for men and from 0.21 (sodium) to 0.62 (B12-vitamin) for women. Correlation coefficients between fruit and vegetable intake and carotenoids ranged from −0.08 (lycopene) to 0.44 (α-carotene). For the residuals the correlation coefficients ranged from −0.004 (lycopene) to 0.47 (α-carotene).Conclusion:The Inter99 FFQ and the residuals of the intake provide acceptable classification of individuals according to their dietary intakes and the FFQ gives a good quantitative measurement of key dietary components.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008) 62, 1038–1046; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602815; published online 30 May 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The daily intake of food flavonoids was determined using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a four day non consecutive food diary (4DFR) in a group of 45 female Flemish dietitians. The subjects were asked to report their food intake three times: day 1 using the FFQ (FFQ1); between day 2 and 13 using a four day non consecutive food diary (4DFR); and again the FFQ on day 14 (FFQ2). The total flavonoid intake in mg/day as estimated with the different methods were respectively (mean and SD) for FFQ1 166.0 +/- 146.6 mg/day; for 4DFR 203.0 +/- 243.2 mg/day; and for FFQ2 158.3 +/- 151.8 mg/day. There was a significant different estimate for the amount of flavan-3-ols, flavanones and flavones when comparing the two FFQs with the 4DFR. The two research methods classified 88% of the 45 dietitians in the same or in an adjacent quartile for total flavonoid intake. The findings of this study indicate that the developed FFQ seems to be a simple and reliable method to assign subjects in quartiles of flavonoid intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]