Validation Information: FFQ (Adolescent, adult and elderly)
Henn 2010
Development and validation of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ-Porto Alegro) for adolescent, adult and elderly populations from Southern Brazil questionnaire (FFQ-Porto Alegre) for adolescent, adult and elderly populations from Southern Development and validation of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ-Porto Alegre) for adolescent, adult and elderly populations from Southern Brazil
This study assessed the validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ-Porto Alegre), covering 135 food items, in comparison with the average of two consecutive 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires for adolescents, adults, and elderly who were randomly selected from a population-based survey. The Pearson correlation coefficients and cross-classification by quartiles of intake were used. The nutrients were log transformed and energy adjusted. The mean of adjusted de-attenuated correlation coefficient for adolescents was 0.44 and ranged from 0.18 (zinc) to 0.69 (folate) and for adult and elderly participants they were, respectively, 0.42, ranging from 0.16 (iron) to 0.73 (energy) and 0.52, ranging from 0.25 (vitamin E) to 0.84 (energy). The average classification percentage into the same or adjacent quartile for the two methods was 74.6% for adolescents, 74.9% for adults, and 81.2% for the elderly population. The FFQ showed fair relative validity for adolescents and adults, and may be used to study the dietary determinants of obesity and non-transmissible diseases in epidemiological surveys.
Total number of nutrients validated: 13
Not all of the nutrients validated in the validation studies are included in the table below, as statistical data was only selected to be displayed for a number of nutrients, this included:
- Energy
- Fat
- Saturated Fat
- Mono-unsaturated Fat
- Poly-unsaturated Fat
- Carbohydrates
- Protein
- Sugar
- Non‐starch polysaccharides(NSP)
- Sodium
- Calcium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Retinol
- Folate
- Folic Acid
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Fruit & Vegetables
- Urinary Nitrogen
To find information on the other validated nutrients please read the validation study.
- Energy
- Macronutrients: 7
- Micronutrients: 7
| Comparator | Lifestage | Sex | Nutrient Measured | Mean Difference | Standard Deviation | Correlation Coefficient | Cohen's Kappa Coefficient | Percentage Agreement | Percentage Agreement Categories | Lower Limits of Agreement | Upper Limits of Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24hr Recall | Adolescents | Both | Energy (kcal) | 271 | 902 | 0.49 (P) | |||||
| Protein (g) | -1 | 33 | 0.54 (P) | ||||||||
| Fat (g) | 21 | 43 | 0.43 (P) | ||||||||
| Saturated fat (g) | 9 | 14 | 0.39 (P) | ||||||||
| Carbohydrates (g) | 35 | 118 | 0.53 (P) | ||||||||
| Fibre (g) | 6 | 0.46 (P) | |||||||||
| Calcium (mg) | 246 | 359 | 0.57 (P) | ||||||||
| Iron (mg) | 2.7 | 0.48 (P) | |||||||||
| Zinc (mg) | 1.6 | 0.35 (P) | |||||||||
| Vitamin A (µg) | 218.2 | 1087 | 0.40 (P) | ||||||||
| Folate (mcg) | 84 | 107 | 0.45 (P) | ||||||||
| Vitamin C (mg) | -16.8 | 527 | 0.50 (P) | ||||||||
| 24hr Recall | Adults | Both | Energy (kcal) | 497 | 762 | 0.60 (P) | |||||
| Protein (g) | 18 | 34 | 0.58 (P) | ||||||||
| Fat (g) | 26 | 35 | 0.59 (P) | ||||||||
| Saturated fat (g) | 10 | 12 | 0.64 (P) | ||||||||
| Carbohydrates (g) | 58 | 103 | 0.56 (P) | ||||||||
| Fibre (g) | 12 | 8 | 0.44 (P) | ||||||||
| Calcium (mg) | 218 | 393 | 0.66 (P) | ||||||||
| Iron (mg) | 4.1 | 7 | 0.49 (P) | ||||||||
| Zinc (mg) | 2.9 | 7 | 0.44 (P) | ||||||||
| Vitamin A (µg) | 611.1 | 1442 | 0.21 (P) | ||||||||
| Folate (mcg) | 96.4 | 126 | 0.41 (P) | ||||||||
| Vitamin C (mg) | 77.2 | 95 | 0.37 (P) | ||||||||
| 24hr Recall | Elderly | Both | Energy (kcal) | 366 | 525 | 0.76 (P) | |||||
| Protein (g) | 8 | 25 | 0.73 (P) | ||||||||
| Fat (g) | 20 | 24 | 0.68 (P) | ||||||||
| Saturated fat (g) | 8 | 9 | 0.67 (P) | ||||||||
| Carbohydrates (g) | 46 | 89 | 0.67 (P) | ||||||||
| Fibre (g) | 10 | 10 | 0.46 (P) | ||||||||
| Calcium (mg) | 222 | 328 | 0.62 (P) | ||||||||
| Iron (mg) | 3 | 0.51 (P) | |||||||||
| Zinc (mg) | 2 | 0.60 (P) | |||||||||
| Vitamin A (µg) | 520.4 | 847 | 0.44 (P) | ||||||||
| Folate (mcg) | 84.7 | 130 | 0.46 (P) | ||||||||
| Vitamin C (mg) | 79.8 | 86 | 0.69 (P) |
Some results have been calculated using statistical techniques based on the published data.
For further information on statistical terms click on Statistical tests used in validation studies
All correlations coefficients in the table are unadjusted unless stated otherwise. For adjusted correlation coefficients and other statistical methods used in the study e.g. paired t-tests, please read the validation articles.
- # Adjusted
- † Energy adjusted.
- ‡ For loge-transformed, energy-adjusted nutrient intakes.
- ^ Adjacent included.
- ᵟ Participants provided identical responses.
- (w) = Weighted.
Henn R.L, Fuchs S.C, Moreira L. B. & Fuchs F.D. (2010). Development and validation of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ-Porto Alegre) for adolescent, adult and elderly populations from Southern Brazil. Cad. Saude Publica, 26 (11) 2068-2079