Development and validation of a food-frequency questionnaire for the determination of detailed fatty acid intakes.
OBJECTIVE
To validate a fat intake questionnaire (FIQ) developed to assess habitual dietary intake while focusing on the assessment of detailed fatty acid intake including total trans unsaturated fatty acids (TUFA).


METHODS
An 88 food item/food group FIQ was developed using a meal pattern technique. Validation was achieved by comparison with dietary intake assessed by a modified diet history (DH) in a cross-over design. Eighty-four individuals supplied adipose tissue biopsies for linoleic acid and total TUFA analysis as an independent validation of the FIQ and DH.


METHODS
Medical Centre, Dublin Airport, Republic of Ireland.


METHODS
One hundred and five healthy volunteers (43 females and 62 males aged 23-63 years).


RESULTS
Significant correlations (P<0.0005) were achieved for intakes of energy (0.78), total fat (0.77), saturated fat (0.77), monounsaturated fat (0.63), polyunsaturated fat (0.73), TUFA (0.67) and linoleic acid (0.71) assessed by the FIQ compared with the DH. Linoleic acid intake assessed by the FIQ and the DH was significantly correlated with adipose tissue concentrations (r=0.58 and 0.49, respectively; P<0.005); however, total TUFA intake was poorly correlated with adipose tissue concentrations (r=0.17 and 0.10 for FIQ and DH, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The FIQ compared favourably with the DH in assessing habitual diet, in particular fatty acid intake. In addition, the FIQ was successfully validated against the linoleic acid composition of adipose tissue, an independent biomarker of relative fatty acid status. The FIQ could therefore be used as an alternative to the DH as it is a shorter, less labour-intensive method.
Cantwell
Marie M
MM
Department of Biological Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology, Republic of Ireland.
Gibney
Michael J
MJ
Cronin
Denis
D
Younger
Kate M
KM
O'Neill
John P
JP
Hogan
Linda
L
Flynn
Mary A T
MA
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage
D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids; D019787:Linoleic Acid