A systematic review of methods to assess intake of saturated fat (SF) among healthy European adults and children: a DEDIPAC (Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity) study

Abstract Background Dietary fat is an essential macronutrient. However, saturated fact has been associated with negative health outcomes including cardiovascular disease. Shifting consumption from saturated fat to unsaturated fats and limiting the level of saturated fat in the diet has been recommended. Currently, there is no standard method to measure saturated fat intake in etiologic studies. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a reliable picture of saturated fat intake in Europe. To inform the development of the DEDIPAC (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity) toolbox of methods, we aimed to identify the assessment methods and specific instruments which have been used to assess saturated fat intake among children or adults in pan-European studies. Methods Three electronic databases were searched for English language studies of any design which assessed intake of saturated fat. Reference lists were hand-searched. Studies were included if they were conducted in two or more European countries, and involved healthy, free-living children and adults. Results The review identified 20 pan-European studies which assessed saturated fat intake. Food Frequency Questionnaires (n = 8) and diet records (n = 7) were most common, followed by 24-h recalls (n = 5). Methods differed in portion size estimation and the composition data which was used to calculate nutrient intake. Of the instruments used in more than two European countries, five Food Frequency Questionnaires had been specifically tested for validity to assess saturated fat intake; four among adults (Food4me, PURE, IMMIDIET, Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE)) and one among children (used by Piqueras et al.). Conclusions A standardised approach to portion size estimation and a common source of food composition data are required to measure saturated fat intake across Europe effectively. Only five instruments had been used in more than two European countries and specifically tested for validity to assess saturated fat intake. These instruments may be most appropriate to evaluate intake of saturated fat in future pan-European studies. However, only two instruments had been tested for validity in more than one European country. Future work is needed to assess the validity of the identified instruments across European countries

The Maastricht FFQ: Development and validation of a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire for the Maastricht study.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for The Maastricht Study, a population-based prospective cohort study in Maastricht, The Netherlands. Item selection for the FFQ was based on explained variation and contribution to intake of energy and 24 nutrients. For validation, the FFQ was completed by 135 participants (25-70 y of age) of the Nutrition Questionnaires plus study. Per person, on average 2.8 (range 1-5) telephone-based 24-h dietary recalls (24HRs), two 24-h urinary samples, and one blood sample were available. Validity of 54 nutrients and 22 food groups was assessed by ranking agreement, correlation coefficients, attenuation factors, and ultimately deattenuated correlation coefficients (validity coefficients). Median correlation coefficients for energy and macronutrients, micronutrients, and food groups were 0.45, 0.36, and 0.38, respectively. Median deattenuated correlation coefficients were 0.53 for energy and macronutrients, 0.45 for micronutrients, and 0.64 for food groups, being >0.50 for 18 of 22 macronutrients, 16 of 30 micronutrients and >0.50 for 17 of 22 food groups. The FFQ underestimated protein and potassium intake compared with 24-h urinary nitrogen and potassium excretion by -18% and -2%, respectively. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.50 and 0.55 for (fatty) fish intake and plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, and from 0.26 to 0.42 between fruit and vegetable intake and plasma carotenoids. Overall, the validity of the 253-item Maastricht FFQ was satisfactory. The comprehensiveness of this FFQ make it well suited for use in The Maastricht Study and similar populations

A national FFQ for the Netherlands (the FFQ-NL 1.0): validation of a comprehensive FFQ for adults

A standardised, national, 160-item FFQ, the FFQ-NL 1.0, was recently developed for Dutch epidemiological studies. The objective was to validate the FFQ-NL 1.0 against multiple 24-h recalls (24hR) and recovery and concentration biomarkers. The FFQ-NL 1.0 was filled out by 383 participants (25-69 years) from the Nutrition Questionnaires plus study. For each participant, one to two urinary and blood samples and one to five (mean 27) telephone-based 24hR were available. Group-level bias, correlation coefficients, attenuation factors, de-attenuated correlation coefficients and ranking agreement were assessed. Compared with the 24hR, the FFQ-NL 1.0 estimated the intake of energy and macronutrients well. However, it underestimated intakes of SFA and trans-fatty acids and alcohol and overestimated intakes of most vitamins by >5 %. The median correlation coefficient was 039 for energy and macronutrients, 030 for micronutrients and 030 for food groups. The FFQ underestimated protein intake by an average of 16 % and K by 5 %, relative to their urinary recovery biomarkers. Attenuation factors were 044 and 046 for protein and K, respectively. Correlation coefficients were 043-047 between (fatty) fish intake and plasma EPA and DHA and 024-043 between fruit and vegetable intakes and plasma carotenoids. In conclusion, the overall validity of the newly developed FFQ-NL 1.0 was acceptable to good. The FFQ-NL 1.0 is well suited for future use within Dutch cohort studies among adults

High redshift radio galaxies from the Molonglo Catalogue. II

Restricted Access.We report further results from the ongoing study of radio galaxies from the Molonglo Reference Catalogue are reported. The sources were selected to have 408 MHz flux densities greater than 0.95 Jy and low frequency spectral indices steeper than -0.9. VLA 6-cm maps, optical identifications and redshifts for 18 sources are presented. Most of these sources are identified with faint galaxies, many of which have extended optical structures with morphologies characteristic of high redshift (z greater than 1) radio galaxies. Long slit spectroscopic observations have yielded redshifts for all of the galaxies, three of which have z greater than 2. Spectrophotometry of 1 Jy and the 3CR samples are used to distinguish between an L (emission line) versus L (radio) correlation as opposed to an L (emission line) versus redshift correlation. The results strongly support an intrinsic L (emission line) versus L (radio) correlation. The structures of the sources in this and other 1 Jy samples are substantially different fro the 3C sources, the 1 Jy galaxies having stronger cores and jets

The Maastricht FFQ:Development and validation of a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire for the Maastricht study

Objective: To develop and validate a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for The Maastricht Study, a population-based prospective cohort study in Maastricht, The Netherlands. Research Methods & Procedures: Item selection for the FFQ was based on explained variation and contribution to intake of energy and 24 nutrients. For validation, the FFQ was filled out by 135 participants (25-70 years) of the Nutrition Questionnaires plus study. Per person, on average 2.8 (range 1 to 5) telephone-based 24h dietary recalls (24hRs), two 24h urinary samples and one blood sample were available. Validity of 54 nutrients and 22 food groups was assessed by ranking agreement, correlation coefficients, attenuation factors, and ultimately de-attenuated correlation coefficients (validity coefficients). Results: Median correlation coefficients for energy and macronutrients, micronutrients and food groups were 0.45, 0.36 and 0.38, respectively. Median de-attenuated correlation coefficients were 0.53 for energy and macronutrients, 0.45 for micronutrients and 0.64 for food groups, being >0.50 for 18 out of 22 macronutrients and 16 out of 30 micronutrients, and >0.50 for 17 out of 22 food groups. The FFQ underestimated protein and potassium intake compared to 24h urinary nitrogen and potassium excretion by -18% and -2%, respectively. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.50 and 0.55 for (fatty) fish intake and plasma EPA and DHA, and from 0.26-0.42 between fruit and vegetable intake and plasma carotenoids. Conclusion: Overall, the validity of the 253-item Maastricht-FFQ is good. The comprehensiveness of this FFQ make it well-suited for use in The Maastricht Study and similar populations