Nutrient estimation from an FFQ developed for a Black Zimbabwean population.
BACKGROUND
There is little information in the literature on methods of food composition database development to calculate nutrient intake from food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data. The aim of this study is to describe the development of an FFQ and a food composition table to calculate nutrient intake in a Black Zimbabwean population.


METHODS
Trained interviewers collected 24-hour dietary recalls (24 hr DR) from high and low income families in urban and rural Zimbabwe. Based on these data and input from local experts we developed an FFQ, containing a list of frequently consumed foods, standard portion sizes, and categories of consumption frequency. We created a food composition table of the foods found in the FFQ so that we could compute nutrient intake. We used the USDA nutrient database as the main resource because it is relatively complete, updated, and easily accessible. To choose the food item in the USDA nutrient database that most closely matched the nutrient content of the local food we referred to a local food composition table.


RESULTS
Almost all the participants ate sadza (maize porridge) at least 5 times a week, and about half had matemba (fish) and caterpillar more than once a month. Nutrient estimates obtained from the FFQ data by using the USDA and Zimbabwean food composition tables were similar for total energy intake intra class correlation (ICC) = 0.99, and carbohydrate (ICC = 0.99), but different for vitamin A (ICC = 0.53), and total folate (ICC = 0.68).


CONCLUSIONS
We have described a standardized process of FFQ and food composition database development for a Black Zimbabwean population.
Merchant
Anwar T
AT
Population health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton ON, Canada. anwar.merchant@post.harvard.edu
Dehghan
Mahshid
M
Chifamba
Jephat
J
Terera
Getrude
G
Yusuf
Salim
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D019992:Databases as Topic; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D016885:United States Department of Agriculture; D014505:Urban Population; D003313:Zea mays; D015030:Zimbabwe; D001741:Black or African American
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates