Food questionnaire for assessment of infant gluten consumption.
BACKGROUND
In light of the possibly preventive role of timing and amount of gluten in celiac disease, it would be helpful to have a questionnaire to assess the gluten intake in infants.


OBJECTIVE
Development and validation of a food questionnaire to assess gluten consumption in healthy infants aged 0-12 months (FQ-gluten).


METHODS
A food frequency questionnaire, previously developed for the Generation R study, was adapted for the assessment of gluten intake. The results of a 2-day food record (FR) were compared with the results of this FQ-gluten.


RESULTS
Eighty-seven parents filled in the FR and the FQ-gluten. The number of children who consume gluten and who are breast-fed is higher, reported in the FQ-gluten. The amount of gluten is comparable from the age of 3 up to 10 months, but at 11 and 12 months a higher gluten intake is reported using the FR, probably due to a larger variety of food products not detectable by the FQ-gluten. However, there is a high agreement in the food groups (Cohens' kappa=0.6-0.8).


CONCLUSIONS
This new, short, standardized, validated and easy to use FQ-gluten may be a useful instrument to assess gluten intake in infants, both at the individual and at the population level. The use of this method by investigators in other countries provides the opportunity for a better comparison of the results of gluten consumption in (co-operative) studies throughout different countries.
Hopman
Erica G
EG
Department of Dietetics and Nutrition C-7-P, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands. G.D.Hopman@lumc.nl
Kiefte-de Jong
Jessica C
JC
le Cessie
Saskia
S
Moll
Henriëtte A
HA
Witteman
Jacqueline C
JC
Bleeker
Sacha E
SE
Mearin
M Luisa
ML
D000367:Age Factors; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
D005983:Glutens