Food frequency questionnaire for assessing infant iron nutrition

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Dietary Assessment Methods
• Iron Metabolism

Background:

• Accurate assessment of infant iron intake and nutritional status is crucial for preventing deficiency.
• Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are commonly used but require validation in pediatric populations.
• Existing methods for assessing iron status include hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin receptor levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for assessing iron nutrition in infants.
• To compare FFQ-derived nutrient intakes with a three-day food record (3d-FR).
• To evaluate the association between FFQ-estimated iron intake and iron status biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a three-day food record (3d-FR) were administered to parents of 148 infants (8-26 months).
• Blood samples were collected to measure hemoglobin (Hgb), ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR).
• Statistical analyses assessed the association between FFQ and 3d-FR intakes, and between iron intake and iron status markers.

Main Results:

• Iron deficiency anemia and iron depletion were identified in 9% and 26% of infants, respectively.
• FFQ-estimated intakes of energy, total iron, heme/non-heme iron, vitamin C, and fiber correlated with 3d-FR estimates.
• FFQ generally overestimated nutrient intakes compared to 3d-FR; iron intakes explained <10% of iron status variability.

Conclusions:

• The developed FFQ demonstrates relative validity for assessing differences in energy, iron, vitamin C, and fiber intake compared to a 3d-FR in infants.
• The FFQ's ability to accurately assess infant iron intake and its association with iron status requires further refinement.
• Additional development is needed before FFQs can be reliably used to advance the assessment of iron intake and status in infants.