title: Validation of a food frequency questionnaire to assess the consumption of carotenoids, fruits and vegetables among adolescents: the method of triads.
abstract: The aim of this study was to validate the intake of carotenoids, fruits and vegetables estimated by the Food Frequency Questionnaire for Adolescents (FFQA) using the method of triads. Blood samples were collected from 80 elementary school adolescents to assess serum levels of β-carotene. Partial correlation coefficients (r) were calculated between an estimated intake of carotenoids, fruits and vegetables and the serum levels of β-carotene. Validity coefficients were calculated using the method of triads. With the exception of carotenoids, partial r from the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) were greater than those of the 24-hour recall (24hR). The fruit/vegetable group showed the highest partial r for the FFQ (r = 0.235) and the 24hR (r = 0.137). The highest validity coefficient was obtained for the vegetable group, as assessed by the FFQ (r = 0.873). On average, the validity coefficient values for the FFQ were greater than those obtained for the 24hR or the β-carotene serum levels. The FFQA is an accurate tool for estimating the intake of carotenoids, fruits and vegetables in this population group.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Betzabeth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: Carla Cristina
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Enes
authors.forename: Rossana Verónica Mendoza
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Nágila Raquel Teixeira
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Damasceno
authors.forename: Silvia Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Voci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D004034:Diet Surveys / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014675:Vegetables; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids