Nutrient estimation from an FFQ developed for a Black Zimbabwean population

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Dietary Assessment Methods
• Public Health Nutrition

Background:

• Limited literature exists on developing food composition databases for calculating nutrient intake from food frequency questionnaires (FFQs).
• Accurate dietary assessment is crucial for understanding nutritional status and informing public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a complementary food composition table.
• To enable the calculation of nutrient intake specifically for a Black Zimbabwean population.

Main Methods:

• Collected 24-hour dietary recalls (24 hr DR) from diverse Zimbabwean families (urban/rural, high/low income).
• Developed an FFQ listing frequently consumed foods, standard portion sizes, and consumption frequencies.
• Created a food composition table using the USDA database and a local Zimbabwean table for accurate nutrient matching.

Main Results:

• Nutrient estimates for energy and carbohydrates using the FFQ and developed database showed high agreement (ICC = 0.99) with 24 hr DR.
• Estimates for Vitamin A (ICC = 0.53) and total folate (ICC = 0.68) indicated moderate agreement, highlighting areas for refinement.

Conclusions:

• A standardized methodology for FFQ and food composition database development was successfully established for the target population.
• This work provides a foundation for future nutritional research and surveillance in Black Zimbabwean communities.