title: Food frequency questionnaire for assessing infant iron nutrition.
abstract: A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed and tested for assessing iron nutrition in infants through comparison with a three-day food record (3d-FR) and measures of iron status. Parents of 148 infants aged eight to 26 months completed a 3d-FR and an FFQ. Blood was collected for measures of hemoglobin (Hgb), ferritin, and transferrin receptor (sTfR). Iron deficiency anemia and iron depletion (ferritin < or =12 microg/L) were found in 9% and 26% of infants, respectively. The intakes of energy, total iron, heme and non-heme iron, vitamin C, and dietary fibre determined by the FFQ were associated with the intakes of the same nutrient determined by the 3d-FR (p<0.05). The intakes of energy, total iron, non-heme and heme iron, vitamin C, and fibre were significantly higher when estimated by the FFQ than by the 3d-FR. Total and heme iron intakes determined by the FFQ were significantly associated with serum ferritin, sTfR, and the sTfR:ferritin ratio (p<0.05). However, iron intakes explained <10% of the variability in iron status. Despite relative validity of the FFQ for evaluating differences in energy, iron, vitamin C, and fibre intake compared with a 3d-FR, FFQs need further development before they can be used to advance assessment of iron intake and status in infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Innis
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D007501:Iron