Collection and analysis of intake data from the integrated survey

Intake data from the combined CSFII/NHANES survey will be used for many different purposes, each with specific data requirements and appropriate analytic methods. For monitoring and surveillance, the availability of Dietary Reference Intakes will allow estimates of the prevalence of inadequate intakes and the prevalence of intakes with a risk of adverse effects. The accuracy of the nutrient intake estimates will be enhanced by the 5-pass dietary recall methodology, availability of quantified dietary supplement intake data and expanded food and supplement composition data. Food-level dietary monitoring will be improved by using new databases to calculate servings of food groups from the Food Guide Pyramid and intakes of food commodities. Another major strength of the survey is the ability to relate intake data to health measures for individuals. Inferences will continue to be limited by a lack of usual intake for each individual, but the attenuation will be less with 2 d of data than with only 1 d, as in the past. Better data collection and analysis will also lead to more informed nutrition policies and programs. Innovative methods of analyzing the data should be investigated to minimize the effects of underreporting, provide better estimates of usual intake at both the group and individual levels and accurately combine nutrient intakes from foods and supplements. Future modifications to the intake collection methods might be considered to allow larger sample sizes for certain subgroups, more detailed information on supplement use, an expanded food frequency questionnaire, a different number of recall days and incorporation of diet and health knowledge questions.