Validation of food diary method for assessment of dietary energy and macronutrient intake in infants and children aged 6-24 months.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the estimated food diary record (ED) method against weighed intake record method (WI) for assessing dietary intake in infants and children aged 6-24 months; additionally, to compare WI with metabolisable energy intake (ME) measured by doubly labelled water (DLW) in infants aged 6 12 months.


METHODS
Cross-over study of 5 day WI vs 5 day ED.


METHODS
Seventy-two children aged 6-24 months.


METHODS
Subjects were randomly assigned to one method during week 1 crossing over to the alternative method in week 2. Data were coded and translated into daily nutrient intakes using COMP-EAT version 5 nutritional analysis software. The analysis compared energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate. Twenty-one infants were dosed with DLW for measurement of total energy expenditure (TEE) and ME.


RESULTS
Mean energy intake calculated from WI and ED was 3,782 and 3,920 kJ/day, respectively. There was no significant difference between these values. Using WI as a reference, ED showed a mean bias of 138 kJ/day, equivalent to 3.6% of mean energy intake. Limits of agreement (+/- 2 s.d. of the bias) were wide at +/- 1,385 kJ/day. There were no significant differences between methods for any of the nutrient sub-classes. Using DLW as a reference, WI showed a mean bias of 243 kJ/day, equivalent to 7.3% of mean energy intake, limits of agreement were wide at +/- 1686 kJ/day.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no evidence from the present analysis that ED is less accurate than WI for assessing energy and nutrient sub-class intakes in groups of this age but this good agreement between methods in groups does not extend to individuals.
Lanigan
J A
JA
Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Wells
J C
JC
Lawson
M S
MS
Lucas
A
A
D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003903:Deuterium; D015930:Diet Records; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007201:Indicator Dilution Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D003903:Deuterium