Zinc-specific food frequency questionnaire.
OBJECTIVE
A new dietary zinc assessment tool (ZAT) was evaluated to determine its usefulness in estimating zinc intakes among college students.


METHODS
A food frequency questionnaire specifically designed for calculating average zinc intakes was administered to university students who had also completed three-day food records. Zinc intakes from the two instruments were compared.


RESULTS
Among 171 participants (38 male, 133 female) aged 20.2 +/- 1.6 years (mean +/- standard deviation), the two dietary assessment methods were positively correlated (r=0.33, p<0.001). The ZAT correctly identified 76% of the women who were obtaining less than the National Academy of Sciences Recommended Dietary Allowance for zinc (8 mg/day for females, 11 mg/day for males).


CONCLUSIONS
This convenient tool may assist in the identification of problematic dietary patterns at an early stage. Further design modifications and expanded studies are warranted.
Lacey
Janet M
JM
Program in Nutrition and Dietetics, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester, PA.
D000328:Adult; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*