Validation of a food frequency questionnaire for use in Italian adults living in Sicily

Abstract

The objective of this study was to validate two interviewer-led food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) of very different lengths: a medium-length FFQ (medium-FFQ) of 36 items and a short-length FFQ (short-FFQ) of 18 items, intending to measure levels of intakes in a local population. Both FFQs were validated against intakes derived from a 3-day dietary record (3-day DR). Sixty-five non-diabetic adults with no known cardiovascular, renal or other systemic diseases were included. High correlation coefficients between the FFQ and the 3-day DR (0.45–0.73) were observed for energy intake, carbohydrates and lipid and protein intake. Bland–Altman plots showed good agreement between the methods. Low (0.26–0.37) correlation coefficients of the different nutrient intakes obtained with the short-FFQ and the 3-day DR were observed, with the exception of alcohol intake (rho = 0.49). This study showed promising evidence for the use of a medium-FFQ as a potentially useful tool for investigating the relationship between habitual diet and diseases in clinical and research settings.

• Dietary record
• energy intake
• food frequency questionnaire
• food intake

Delcaration of interest

This study was funded by Associazione Onlus Nutrizione e Salute, Palermo, Italy.