Validation Information: FFQ (Latin American Adults)
Elorriaga 2013
Validation of a self-administered FFQ in adults in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
Objective: To assess the reproducibility and validity among adults in the Southern
Cone of Latin America (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay) of a self-administered FFQ to be used in the CESCAS I Study, an ongoing observational prospective cohort study to detect and follow up CVD and their risk factors, as well as in other epidemiological studies.
Design: Relative validity of the FFQ was evaluated by comparing nutrient and selected food group intakes with those from three 24 h recalls (24HR) administered over 6 months. The FFQ was administered at baseline (FFQ1) and again after 3 months (FFQ2).
Setting: Primary-care centres in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
Subjects: Adults (n 147) aged 21–74 years.
Results: Reproducibility (FFQ1 v. FFQ2): the intra-class correlation coefficients for nutrients ranged from 0.52 (potassium) to 0.74 (fat). Validity (FFQ1 v. the average of three 24HR): the Pearson correlations for energy-adjusted nutrients ranged from 0.39 (thiamin and cholesterol) to 0.59 (carbohydrate). Joint classification: overall, 66% of participants in the lowest 24HR quintile were in the lowest one or two FFQ1 quintiles, and 62% of those in the highest 24HR quintile were in the highest one or two FFQ1 quintiles. On average, only 4% were misclassified into extreme quintiles.
Conclusions: The FFQ version for the Southern Cone seems to present moderate to acceptable relative validity and reliability for its use in the CESCAS I Study to measure dietary exposure.
Total number of nutrients validated: 20
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: 8
- Micronutrients: 12
| 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 | Adults, Elderly | Both | Energy (kcal) | -199 | 0.43 (P) | 5 | |||||
| Protein (g) | 5.5 | 0.36 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Total fat (g) | 2.3 | 0.39 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| SFA (g) | -1 | 0.41 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| MUFA (g) | -1.1 | 0.38 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| PUFA (g) | -1.6 | 0.30 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Carbohydrate (g) | 15.3 | 0.44 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Fibre (g) | 2 | 0.42 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Sodium (mg) | 278.2 | 0.33 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Calcium (mg) | 60 | 0.37 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Iron (mg) | 2 | 0.34 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Zinc (mg) | 0.9 | 0.44 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Retinol (µg) | 256.5 | 0.32 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Vitamin B12 (µg) | 1.4 | 0.38 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Vitamin C (mg) | 26.3 | 0.36 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Fruits (g) | 35 | 0.52 (P) | 5 | ||||||||
| Vegetables (g) | 36.8 | 0.32 (P) | 5 |
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.
Elorriaga N, Irazola VE, Defagó MD, Britz M, Martínez-Oakley SP, Witriw AM, Rubinstein AL. Validation of a self-administered FFQ in adults in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. Public health nutrition. 2015 Jan;18(1):59-67.