Validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire for adults of São Paulo, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire developed for estimating the food consumption of adults in São Paulo, Brazil, based population study.


METHODS
A sample of individuals aged above 20 years, of both genders, living in São Paulo, was used for the validation study (n = 77) and reproducibility study (n = 74) of the food frequency questionnaire. To verify the validity and reproducibility of energy and 19 nutrients were applied two food frequency questionnaires (60 items) and three 24-hour dietary recalls (24HR - reference method). The validity was verified by Spearman correlation coefficient (crude and de-attenuated) and weighted Kappa, and reproducibility by intraclass correlation coefficients and weighted kappa.


RESULTS
In analyzes of validity de-attenuated correlation coefficients ranged from 0.21 (carbohydrate) to 0.74 (energy), and weighted kappa exceeded 0.40 for 30% of the nutrients. Polyunsaturated fat and folate did not show significant correlation and weighted kappa. In reproducibility correlation coefficients ranged from 0.36 (polyunsaturated fat) to 0.69 (calcium), and weighted kappa exceeded 0.40 for 80% of the nutrients.


CONCLUSIONS
The food frequency questionnaire analyzed has good validity and reproducibility for estimating the food consumption of adults in São Paulo compared to the reference method, so it is an appropriate instrument to be used in epidemiological studies on similar populations. Estimates of polyunsaturated fat and folate should be interpreted with caution.
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Soraya Sant'Ana de Castro
SS
Selem
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Aline Martins de
AM
Carvalho
Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Social Medicine, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Eliseu
E
Verly-Junior
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Jackeline Venâncio
JV
Carlos
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Juliana Araujo
JA
Teixeira
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Dirce Maria Lobo
DM
Marchioni
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Regina Mara
RM
Fisberg
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires