• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2010

Little data exists on metabolic syndrome (MetS) related with intake, especially for the South Korean. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for nutritional assessment in the population with MetS in South Korea. Randomly selected female participants, mean age 21.9 years (n = 38) were invited to answer the FFQ twice (FFQ1 and FFQ2) over a nine-month interval and to complete twelve-day diet records (DR) during the months between in South Korea. The correlation coefficients for nutrient intake between FFQ1 and FFQ2 varied from 0.253 (niacin) to 0.573 (cholesterol), and the energy intake-adjusted correlation coefficients ranged from 0.187 for protein to 0.662 for iron. The energy intake-adjusted and de-attenuated correlation coefficients for comparison of FFQ1 and the DRs ranged between 0.277 (vitamin $B_1$) and 0.768 (fiber), and between 0.229 (zinc) and 0.859 (fat) for comparison of DRs with FFQ2. The percentages of study subjects classified into the same quartiles in both the DRs and FFQ1 ranged from 15.8% (vitamin $B_6$) to 47.4% (calcium), and for the same quartiles in DRs and FFQ2 from 13.2% (vitamin $B_1$) to 44.7% (potassium). The FFQ has reasonably good validity and reproducibility. Further research is needed for an assessment of reproducibility and validation of present FFQ in the subjects with MetS.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.99-105
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Compelling evidence indicates that consumption of trans-fatty acids (TFA) is associated with a wide range of diseases. However, few validated tools for TFA intake assessment are available in Korea. We aimed to validate a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) estimating usual intake of TFA in Korean adults. MATERIALS/METHODS: Eighty-two healthy adults completed an FFQ with a 3-day diet record (3DDR), and 58 completed a second FFQ at a 1-month interval. To assess the reproducibility of the FFQ, we compared estimated TFA intakes from each FFQ. To assess the validity, we compared estimates from the FFQ with those from the 3DDR. RESULTS: The FFQ was reproducible (Spearman r = 0.71) and provided modest correlations with the 3DDR (Spearman r = 0.38). After adjustment for total energy intake, the correlations increased (r = 0.45). Measurement-error correction also de-attenuated the correlations (r = 0.57). When quintiles of the FFQ and 3DDR were joint-classified, 9% on average were misclassified into extreme quintiles. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the developed FFQ is reproducible and reasonably valid in categorizing individuals according to TFA intakes among healthy young and middle aged adults in Korea.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.142-148
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• 2010

The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) has been used as an important dietary assessment tool in epidemiologic studies, but the usefulness of the FFQ has been debated in recent years. This study was performed to evaluate the relative validities of 3-day food records and the semi-quantitative FFQ. A total of 124 subjects finished 3-day food records (FRs) during each of the four seasons, as well as the FFQ from December 2002 to May 2004. The FFQ was a food based semi-quantitative FFQ including 103 items. Three-day FRs from each season and a randomly selected season were compared with the remaining 9-day FRs. The remaining 9-day FRs, as a reference measurement, were also compared with the FFQ. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the 3-day FRs and the 9-day FRs were between 0.14 and 0.56. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the FFQ and the 9-day FRs ranged between 0.07 and 0.41. Average proportions of classification into the same quartiles, adjacent quartiles, and distant quartiles between the 3-day FRs and the 9-day FRs were 35.8%, 40.5%, and 5.2%, respectively. On average, the proportions of classification into the same quartiles, adjacent quartiles, and distant quartiles between the FFQ and the 9-day FRs were 31.1%, 39.4%, and 6.9%, respectively. Three-day FRs showed higher correlations and higher agreement proportions of quartile classification with the 9-day FRs than did the FFQ, but both relative validities of 3-day FRs and the FFQ appear to be acceptable as dietary assessment tools. Further studies for validating food intake by reliable biomarkers are necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.143-155
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• 1998

This study was conducted to compare dietary intake and quality obtained by food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) and 24-hour recall method among 1249 Korean adults living in rural area. The survey was conducted twice; first with 65-items FFQ by interview and then with 24-hour recall method two years later. Nutrients intake estimated from two dietary methods showed significant difference. For nutrients except fat and iron, average intake value estimated from the FFQ were significantly higher than that from the 24-hour recall method(p<0.001). Ranking of the subjects by nutrient intake levels obtained by two methods were significantly correlated, but correlation coefficients were low. Percentage of subjects in the lowest or in the highest quintile by 24-hour recalls who belong to the nearest two categories by FFQ ranged from 45% to 61%, while the percentage falling into the opposite category ranged from 7% to 15%. Subjects' percentile rank of nutrient intake by 24-hour recall correlated with their average rank of nutrient intake by FFQ. Information on food groups by two method were not comparable because of the limited number of food items in FFQ. For most nutrients, RDA% or NAR from FFQ were higher than those from 24-hour recall, but INQ from 24-hour recall were higher than those from FFQ. From the results, results of 24-hour recall method seems to be useful in classifying subjects according to their nutrient intake if sample size is large enough.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2004

Cardiovascular disease has the highest mortality rate in South Korea. Previous studies have reported that serum cholesterol level relates to intake of dietary fat and cholesterol. Therefore, in this study we developed a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Koreans with a high-risk of hypercholesterolemia and to validate the FFQ. Semiquantitative FFQ, which includes 160 food items, reflects intakes of energy, fat, saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUPA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUPA) and cholesterol. We chose food items from the previous study of our research group (Suh 1999) which reported a nutritional status of Korean adults with normocholesterolemia, borderline and hypercholesterolemia. To validate the FFQ, we compared the results of the FFQ with those of a 3-day food record using a paired t-test. In addition, we calculated Pearson's and Spearmen's correlation coefficients. Intakes assessed by the FFQ and a 3-day food record were classified into quartile and the degree of agreement was obtained. Fifty-five participants responded for the validation study by completing both the FFQ and a 3-day food record. Pearson's correlation coefficients between estimated intakes by respective methods for energy, fat, SF A, MUPA, PUPA and cholesterol were 0.32,0.41,0.37,0.41,0.37 and 0.21, respectively. Spearman's correlation coefficients of energy, fat, SF A, MUPA, PUPA, cholesterol were 0.31, 0.44, 0.39, 0.46, 0.46, and 0.37, respectively. Nutrient densities in 1000kcal were compared. Pearson's correlation coefficient of cholesterol density increased and other values were similar with original values. The average degree of agreement was 67％ that intakes of energy, fat, SF A, MUPA, PUPA and cholesterol assessed by the FFQ and 3-day food records were classified within the same and the adjacent quartile. On the average, 8％ were misclassified into the extreme opposite quartile. The average of weighted kappa was 0.46. In conclusion, the FFQ developed in this study is considered to be a reliable tool to assess nutrient intakes for Koreans with a risk of hypercholesterolemia because the FFQ reflects the intakes of energy, fat, SFA, MUFA, PUPA, and cholesterol.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2655-2661
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• 2012

Validation of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) utilising a short-term measurement method is challenging when the reference method does not accurately reflect the usual food intake. In addition, food group intake that is not consumed on daily basis is more critical when episodically consumed foods are related and compared. To overcome these challenges, several statistical approaches have been developed to determine usual food intake distributions. The Multiple Source Method (MSM) can calculate the usual food intake by combining the frequency questions of an FFQ with the short-term food intake amount data. In this study, we applied the MSM to estimate the usual food group intake and evaluate the validity of an FFQ with a group of 333 Korean children (aged 3-6 y) who completed two 24-hour recalls (24HR) and one FFQ in 2010. After adjusting the data using the MSM procedure, the true rate of non-consumption for all food groups was less than 1% except for the beans group. The median Spearman correlation coefficients against FFQ of the mean of 2-d 24HRs data and the MSM-adjusted data were 0.20 (range: 0.11 to 0.40) and 0.35 (range: 0.14 to 0.60), respectively. The weighted kappa values against FFQ ranged from 0.08 to 0.25 for the mean of 2-d 24HRs data and from 0.10 to 0.41 for the MSM-adjusted data. For most food groups, the MSM-adjusted data showed relatively stronger correlations against FFQ than raw 2-d 24HRs data, from 0.03 (beverages) to 0.34 (mushrooms). The results of this study indicated that the application of the MSM, which was a better estimate of the usual intake, could be worth considering in FFQ validation studies among Korean children.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2723-2729
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• 2013

Background: To investigate the internal validity of a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed for use in Chinese women and to compare habitual dietary intakes between population and hospital controls measured by the FFQ. Materials and Methods: A quantitative FFQ and a short food habit questionnaire (SFHQ) were developed and adapted for cancer and nutritional studies. Habitual dietary intakes were assessed in 814 Chinese women aged 18-81 years (407 outpatients and 407 population controls) by face-to-face interview using the FFQ in Shenyang, Northeast China in 2009-2010. The Goldberg formula (ratio of energy intake to basal metabolic rate, EI/BMR) was used to assess the validity of the FFQ. Correlation analyses compared the SFHQ variables with those of the quantitative FFQ. Differences in dietary intakes between hospital and population controls were investigated. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained using conditional logistic regression analyses. Results: The partial correlation coefficients were moderate to high (0.42 to 0.80; all p<0.05) for preserved food intake, fat consumption and tea drinking variables between the SFHQ and the FFQ. The average EI/BMR was 1.93 with 88.5% of subjects exceeding the Goldberg cut-off value of 1.35. Hospital controls were comparable to population controls in consumption of 17 measured food groups and mean daily intakes of energy and selected nutrients. Conclusions: The FFQ had reasonable validity to measure habitual dietary intakes of Chinese women. Hospital outpatients provide a satisfactory control group for food consumption and intakes of energy and nutrients measured by the FFQ in a Chinese hospital setting.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.273-280
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• 1998

This study was designed to estimate the improvement of Validity for food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) by offering multiple choice portion size in developing a questionnaire. Validity of the two methods(food frequency questionnaire I=FFQ I & Food frequency questionnaire II=FFQ II) was tested in comparison with reference method of the 7-day weighed record(7DWR). Dietary consumption data of the three methods(FFQ I, FFQ II & 7DWR) were collected from 101 female university students for the analysis. Validity was measured in two categories : One was the nutrient intake value from the three methods, the other was the identification of between individual variation within the group. Spearman's rank order correlation test and distribution graphs were used for the analysis. The result showed that individual intake value of the FFQII was closer to that of the 7DWR than that of the FFQ I.Spearman's rank order correlation between the FFQII and the 7DWR did not show any improved correlation. The distribution graphs of nutrient intake derived from both the FFQ I and the FFQII were different from that of the 7DWR. Therefore, it could be suggested that single one portion size food frequency questionnaire is an equally efficient method as a multiple choice food frequency questionnaire to be adopted in epidemiologic studies.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.106-119
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the reproducibility of food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) designed for young female nurses in the Korea Nurses' Health Study. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The reproducibility of web-based, self-administered FFQs was evaluated among 243 Korean female nurses. The first FFQ (FFQ1) was administered from March 2014 to February 2019 and the second FFQ (FFQ2) from November 2019, with a mean interval of 2.8 years between the FFQs (range, 9 months-5.6 years). Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients (r values) and quartile agreements between FFQ1 and FFQ2 were calculated for intakes of energy, nutrients, and foods. RESULTS: Pearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0.41 to 0.55 (median r = 0.51) for energy and raw nutrients and from 0.16 to 0.46 (median r = 0.36) for energy-adjusted nutrients. Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.25 to 0.72 (median r = 0.41) for food items. The percentages of women who were classified into the same or adjacent quartile were 77% to 84% (median = 82%) for raw nutrients and 69% to 86% (median = 78%) for foods. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the web-based FFQ used in the Korea Nurses' Health Study has acceptable reproducibility.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.76-94
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was implemented to develop and validate a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) to assess the dietary intake of married migrant women in multicultural families. Methods: The SQ-FFQ consisting of 41 food items was selected based on the information of frequently consumed foods from the preliminary studies on dietary intake survey for married migrant women or a Korean Health and Nutrition Examination survey. Thirty-five subjects who visited the Multicultural Family Support Center in Seoul and Daejeon area completed their three-day diet records and SQ-FFQ 2 times. The reproducibility and relative validity of SQ-FFQ were assessed by comparing the 1st and 2nd SQ-FFQ and by comparison with the three-day diet records, respectively. Results: The reliability of SQ-FFQ, which was examined 1-2 weeks apart, showed no significant difference in the energy and macronutrient intake (carbohydrate, fat, protein), while the average intakes of vitamin A, riboflavin, calcium, and potassium were slightly higher in the 2nd than 1st SQ-FFQ. All correlation coefficients for the reliability for nutrients were statistically significant, ranging from 0.453 to 0.885. The mean intakes of energy, carbohydrate, vitamin C, thiamin, folate, vitamin B12, calcium, and sodium obtained from the SQ-FFQ were greater than those of the 3-day dietary records. The Spearman's correlation coefficient between the 2 methods was the highest for plant fat (r = 0.602; p < 0.001) and relatively higher for energy, carbohydrate, fat, and thiamin ranging from 0.512 to 0.599; and protein, riboflavin, niacin, folate ranging from 0.335 to 0.499, while no significant correlation was observed for vitamin A, C, calcium, iron, and sodium. Conclusion: The developed SQ-FFQ for married migrant women in multicultural families in this study appears to be useful for estimating the nutritional status, particularly energy, carbohydrates, fat, and vitamin B group.