Nature of dietary reporting by adults in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.
OBJECTIVE
Low reporting of food intake is an acknowledged problem in dietary assessments; however, differences in food intake relative to reporting status are poorly understood. This study examined the relation of a measure of dietary reporting status with the nature of food intake reported by adults in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.


METHODS
Subjects were 6948 women and 6452 men, 20 years of age or older, with a complete and reliable 24-hour dietary recall. The ratio of reported energy intake to estimated basal energy expenditure (EI/BEE) was computed as a measure of dietary reporting status. The independent relation of EI/BEE ratio with 1) the amount, number, and energy density of nutrient-dense and low-nutrient-dense foods, 2) the number of reported eating occasions, 3) macro- and micronutrient intake and 4) serum concentrations of folate, ascorbate and carotenoids were examined using gender-specific multiple regression models.


RESULTS
The EI/BEE ratio related positively with the amount, number and energy density of both nutrient-dense and low-nutrient-dense foods, and grams of alcoholic beverages. The EI/BEE ratio was an independent negative predictor of serum folate, ascorbate and alpha-carotene concentrations confirming the underreporting of food sources of these nutrients. The relative odds of reporting < or = 30% of energy as fat or < 10% of energy as saturated fat decreased with ratio of EI/BEE; however, the odds of reporting all five food groups or meeting the recommended intake of selected micronutrients increased with EI/BEE.


CONCLUSIONS
The quantity and the quality of food intake reported in the 24-hour recall in NHANES III differed in relation to the ratio of EI/BEE.
Kant
Ashima K
AK
Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing 11367, USA. ashima_kant@qc1.qc.edu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012650:Self Disclosure; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins