Comparative analysis of two FFQ

Objective: To examine the utility of a shorter FFQ compared with a longer FFQ, both of which are commonly used in Australia. Design: Comparative study. Setting: Community setting. Subjects: One hundred and fifty-nine men (mean 55 (SEM 7) years) screened for participation in an intervention study completed both the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation FFQ and the Cancer Council of Victoria FFQ. Agreement between both questionnaires was assessed according to Bland–Altman plots and limits of agreement (LOA) and ordinary least products regression to test for the presence of fixed and proportional bias. Results: There was good relative agreement between the methods for energy and macronutrients (Pearson’s correlation coefficients: energy r50?7, protein r50?6, fat r50?8, carbohydrate r50?7, alcohol r50?8; P,0?01). Mean group-level agreement for the majority of nutrients (70 %) fell between 80% and 110 %. According to the criteria used (maximum LOA was 50–200% and no significant proportional bias), there was acceptable agreement between the FFQ for energy and total saturated and monounsaturated fat, but not for protein, carbohydrate and fibre. Micronutrients that did not meet the agreement criteria including calcium, iron, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and folate. When the data were analysed according to quintiles, the majority of subjects were either in exactly the same quintile or within one quintile for most nutrients, and 1–2% were grossly misclassified by three or four quintiles. Conclusions: We conclude that there is sufficient agreement between the instruments for group-level comparisons in men, but they are not interchangeable for estimation of individual intakes.Jennifer B Keogh, Kylie Lange and Julie Syrett

Estimating food intakes in Australia: validation of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) food frequency questionnaire against weighed dietary intakes

Background: There is a dearth of knowledge about the foods that Australian adults eat and a need for a flexible, easy-to-use tool that can estimate usual dietary intakes. The present study was to validate a commonly used Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) foodfrequency questionnaire (C-FFQ) against two 4-day weighed food records (WFR), as the reference method. Methods: The C-FFQ, as the test item, was administrated before the WFR. Two 4-day WFR were administrated 4 weeks apart. Under-reporting was established using specific cut-off limits and estimated basal metabolic rate. Seventyfour women, aged 31–60 years, were enrolled from a free-living community setting. Results: After exclusion for under-reporting, the final sample comprised 62 individuals. Correlations between protein intake from the WFR and urinary urea were significant. Overall agreement between FFQ and WFR was shown by ‘levels of agreement’ (LOA) and least products regressions. There was presence of fixed and proportional bias for almost half the nutrients, including energy, protein, fat and carbohydrates. For most of the nutrients that did not present bias, the LOA were 50–200%. Agreement was demonstrated for percentage dietary energy protein and fat; carbohydrate; and absolute amounts of thiamine, riboflavin, magnesium and iron. However, relative intake agreement was fair to moderate, with approximately 70% of (selected) nutrients exact or within ±1 quintile difference. Conclusion: The C-FFQ is reasonable at measuring percentage energy from macronutrients and some micronutrients, and comprises a valuable tool for ranking intakes by quintiles; however, it is poor at measuring many absolute nutrient intakes relative to WFR.C. Lassale, C. Guilbert, J. Keogh, J. Syrette, K. Lange and D. N. Co

Psychological well-being response to high protein and high carbohydrate weight loss diets in overweight and obese men: A randomised trial

Background & aims: High protein, low fat (HP) diets have established efficacy for weight management, but their effects on psychological well-being, particularly in men have not been well studied. This study compared an energy controlled HP diet with a high carbohydrate, low fat (HC) diet on psychological well-being after 1 year. Methods: 117 obese men (mean±SD, age 49.6±9.2 years; BMI 31.2±4.2kg/m2) were randomised to consumption of either an energy restricted (~7MJ/day), HP diet (n=57; 35% of total energy as protein, 40% carbohydrate, 25% fat) or an isocaloric, HC diet (n=61; 17% protein, 58% carbohydrate, 25% fat) for 52 weeks. Body weight and psychological well-being was measured with Profile of Mood States (POMS), Bachman's Self Esteem scale and the SF-36 instruments at baseline (week 0), week 12 and week 52. Results: Weight loss was (mean±SEM) 8.9±0.4kg (8.6%) at Week 12 and 10.5±0.8kg (10.5%) at Week 52 (p<0.001 for time); no difference between groups (p=0.91 time×diet effect). POMS subscales (anger-hostility, vigour-activity, confusion-bewilderment, tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, fatigue-inertia) and total mood disturbance score and the majority of SF-36 subscales significantly improved at one year (p≤0.05 for all). Self-esteem did not change significantly during the intervention (p=0.075). No effect of diet composition was evident for any of the psychometric measures assessed (p≥0.5 for time×diet effect). Conclusions: In overweight and obese men, weight loss on hypocaloric HP and HC diets were both effective in improving mood and general psychological well-being over one year.Registered under anzctr.org.au Identifier no. ACTRN 12606000002583. © 2013 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.Janna Lutze, Pennie Taylor, Grant D. Brinkworth, Belinda Wyld, Julie Syrette, Carlene J. Wilson, Peter M. Clifton, Manny Noake

Psychological well-being response to high protein and high carbohydrate weight loss diets in overweight and obese men : a randomised trial

Conclusions: In overweight and obese men, weight loss on hypocaloric HP and HC diets were both effective in improving mood and general psychological well-being over one year.