To characterize energy and macronutrient intakes in Brazil and to describe the top food items contributing to energy and macronutrient intakes.

Two non-consecutive 24 h dietary records were collected and energy and macronutrient data were adjusted for usual intake distribution. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA with the Bonferroni post hoc test were analysed using SAS version 9·1. Means and standard deviations were estimated for sex, age and income strata.

Nationwide cross-sectional survey, 2008–2009.

Nationally representative sample of individuals ≥10 years old (n32 749), excluding pregnant and lactating women (n 1254).

The average energy intake was 7958 kJ/d (1902 kcal/d) and mean energy density was 6·82 kJ/g (1·63 kcal/g). Added sugar represented 13 % of total energy intake and animal protein represented 10 %. The mean contribution of total fat to energy intake was 27 %, while the mean saturated fat contribution was 9 %. Compared with the lowest quartile of income, individuals in the highest income quartile had greater mean intakes of energy, added sugar, alcohol, animal protein, total fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and trans fat. Rice, beans, beef, bread and coffee were among the top five foods contributing most to the intakes of energy, carbohydrates, protein, fat and fibre.

In general, Brazilians’ dietary intake is compatible with a high risk of obesity and non-communicable chronic diseases, being characterized by high intakes of added sugar and saturated fat. Income may be a major determinant of diet nutritional characteristics.

We aimed to assess the relative validity and reproducibility of a semi-quantitative FFQ in Puerto Rican adults.

Participants completed an FFQ, followed by a 6 d food record and a second administration of the FFQ, 30 d later. All nutrients were log transformed and adjusted for energy intake. Statistical analyses included correlations, paired t tests, cross-classification and Bland–Altman plots.

Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico.

Convenience sample of students, employees and faculty members (n 100, ≥21 years). Data were collected in 2010.

A total of ninety-two participants completed the study. Most were young overweight females. All nutrients were significantly correlated between the two FFQ, with an average correlation of 0·61 (range 0·43–0·73) and an average difference of 4·8 % between them. Most energy-adjusted nutrients showed significant correlations between the FFQ and food record, which improved with de-attenuation and averaged 0·38 (range 0·11–0·63). The lowest non-significant correlations (≤0·20) were for trans-fat, n 3 fatty acids, thiamin and vitamin E. Intakes assessed by the FFQ were higher than those from the food record by a mean of 19 % (range 4–44 %). Bland–Altman plots showed that there was a systematic trend towards higher estimates with the FFQ, particularly for energy, carbohydrate and Ca. Most participants were correctly classified into the same or adjacent quintile (average 66 %) by both methods with only 3 % gross misclassification.

This semi-quantitative FFQ is a tool that offers relatively valid and reproducible estimates of energy and certain nutrients in this group of mostly female Puerto Ricans.

To examine the relative validity of an FFQ based on parental report for pre-school children in the mother–child ‘Rhea’ birth cohort.

The children’s mothers completed an FFQ that referred to the children’s dietary intake for the previous year by telephone interview. Mothers completed also three food records, two on weekdays and one on a weekend day. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for the energy-adjusted values. Weighted kappa statistics (κw) and the Bland–Altman technique were used to test the degree of agreement between the two dietary methods.

Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 2011–2012.

A total of ninety-nine mothers (corresponding to fifty-one boys and forty-eight girls) participated in the validation study.

The mean and median values of all food group and nutrient intakes did not differ significantly between the two dietary methods. Overall, fair agreement was observed between the FFQ and the food records for ranking participants based on their intake, with κw ranging from 0·21 to 0·40 for most foods and nutrients. On average, 88 % of participants were classified into the same or adjacent tertiles for nutrient and food group intakes by both dietary methods. The degree of agreement was also confirmed by the visual examination of the Bland–Altman plots.

The study indicates that the Rhea 4 years FFQ is a relatively accurate tool for assessing habitual food group and nutrient intakes among pre-school children in Crete, Greece.

To evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a previously constructed FFQ to assess the usual diet of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Cross-sectional survey using two quantitative FFQ (1-month interval) supported by a food photograph portfolio, a 3 d weighed diet record (WDR) and urinary N output measurement (as a biomarker of protein intake).

Group of Nutrition in Endocrinology, southern Brazil.

Out-patients with T2DM.

From a total of 104 eligible T2DM patients, eighty-eight were included in the evaluation of FFQ reproducibility and seventy-two provided data for the validity study. The intakes estimated from the two FFQ did not differ (P > 0·05) and the correlation coefficients were significant (P < 0·01) for energy and nutrients, ranging from 0·451 (soluble fibre) to 0·936 (PUFA). Regarding the validity evaluation, data from the FFQ were higher than those from the WDR for total (28·3 %), soluble (27·4 %) and insoluble fibres (29·1 %), and SFA (13·5 %), MUFA (11·1 %) and total lipids (9·2 %; all P < 0·05). There were significant correlation coefficients between the FFQ and WDR for most nutrients, when adjusted for energy intake and de-attenuated. Also, the Bland–Altman plots between the FFQ and WDR for energy and macronutrient intakes showed that the FFQ may be used as alternative method to the WDR. The validity coefficient (using the method of triads) for the FFQ protein intake was 0·522 (95 % CI 0·414, 0·597).

This quantitative FFQ was valid and precise to assess the usual diet of patients with T2DM, according to its validity and reproducibility.

To validate an FFQ to assess antioxidant intake in overweight postmenopausal women.

A seventy-four-item antioxidant 1-month FFQ was developed based on major antioxidant sources in the American diet. Forty overweight postmenopausal women participated in a 9-month observational study and completed four sets of FFQ and 7 d food record (7dFR) every 3 months. Twelve-hour fasting blood was collected for plasma antioxidant measurement at the first visit.

Connecticut, USA.

Forty overweight postmenopausal women.

Spearman correlation coefficients of 1-month antioxidant intake estimated from the first set of FFQ and 7dFR ranged from 0·34 to 0·87, except for γ-tocopherol. The proportion of participants categorized into the extremely opposite tertiles averaged 7 %. Significant correlations were observed for diet–plasma vitamin C, α-tocopherol and carotenoids (P < 0·05). No time effect was observed on the dietary antioxidant intakes estimated from four 7dFR and four FFQ. Dietary antioxidants estimated from averaged four 7dFR showed moderate to high correlation with those estimated from averaged four FFQ and from each FFQ collected every 3 months. Bland–Altman plots did not show any systematic bias. Averaged misclassifications were below 10 % between these two instruments.

These findings attested a reasonable validity and a good acceptance of this 1-month FFQ in assessing both short-term and long-term diverse antioxidant intakes in these overweight postmenopausal women. The use of this FFQ in associating antioxidant intake with disease risk needs further investigation.

To examine the sociodemographic, parental and child factors that predict fruit and vegetable consumption in 7-year-old children.

Diet was assessed using three 1d unweighed food diaries. The child’s daily fruit and vegetable consumption was calculated by summing the weight of each type of fruit, fruit juice and vegetable consumed. The various others factors measured were assessed by a questionnaire at different time points.

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).

A total of 7285 children aged 7 years residing in the south-west of England during 1999–2000.

Median daily fruit and vegetable consumption (201 g) was below the recommendations for this age group (320 g). Girls ate more fruit and vegetables per unit energy (30·3 g/MJ) than boys (26·7 g/MJ; P =< 0·001). The predictors of fruit and vegetable consumption were mostly similar. Fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with maternal consumption, maternal education status and parental rules about serving fruit/vegetables every day, food expenditure per person and whether the child was choosy about food. Vegetable consumption was also associated with the other characteristics of the child, such as whether the child enjoyed food and whether the child tried a variety of foods.

Children are not eating recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables, particularly boys. Consumption of fruit and vegetables appears to be influenced by parental rules about daily consumption and parental consumption and by the child’s choosiness. Parent’s actions could influence this. These findings may prove useful for those planning healthy eating campaigns for children.

To determine the criterion validity and user acceptability of the Healthy Eating Self-Monitoring Tool (HEST), a CD-ROM-mediated food record for measuring fruit and vegetable consumption among economically disadvantaged black adolescents.

Item intakes, daily intake measures of fruit, vegetables and juices, and daily and total fruit and vegetable intake assessed with the HEST over a 3 d interval were compared with observed intake using Spearman correlations and Wilcoxon signed ranks tests. Mean ratings of participants’ interest in, enjoyment of and likelihood of recommending the HEST to peers were compared with an a priori criterion rating for establishing user acceptability of the HEST.

Youth services agencies in New York City.

Eighty-nine black adolescents aged 11 to 14 years.

Spearman correlations were significant for 67 % of items, for daily intake measures of fruit (days 1 and 3), vegetables and juices (days 1 and 2), and for fruit and vegetable intake (all three days). Wilcoxon signed ranks tests found non-significant intake differences for 78 % of these items, for daily intake measures of fruit and vegetables, and for fruit and vegetable intake (days 2 and 3). HEST-recorded 3 d intake of 14·65 servings was significantly correlated with and did not differ significantly from observed 3 d intake of 15·21 servings. Youths’ HEST-recorded intake was accurate to within 0·56 of a serving of their observed intake. Mean ratings of the HEST were above the criterion rating across user acceptability dimensions assessed.

The HEST is a promising food record approach that is acceptable to youths.

We examine (1) the extent to which seasonal diet assessments correctly classify individuals with respect to their usual nutrient intake, and (2) whether the magnitude of true variation in intake between individuals is seasonal. These effects could lead, respectively, to bias in estimates of relative risk for associations between usual nutrient exposure and disease, and to an increase in required sample size.

One hundred and twenty-seven families in four regions of the Japan Public Health Center (JPHC) Cohort Study.

On average, 48 weighed daily food records were collected per family over six seasons of 1994 and 1995.

A random slopes regression model was used to predict the correlation between seasonal and annual average intakes, and to estimate true between-person variation in intakes by season. Mean vitamin C intake was greatest in summer and autumn, and seasonal variation was attributable to the consumption of fruit and vegetables. Predicted correlations between seasonal and annual average vitamin C intake ranged from 0.62 to 0.87, with greatest correlations in summer and autumn. True between-person variation in vitamin C intake was also strongly seasonal, ranging from 45 to 78% of total variance, and was again greatest in summer and autumn. These effects were less seasonal among energy and 13 other nutrients.

It may be possible substantially to reduce both seasonal misclassification of individuals with respect to their usual vitamin C intake, and required sample size, by asking subjects to report high-season intake of fruit and vegetables in the JPHC Study.