Selecting foods from FNDDS when calculating food intake: Does the reference matter?

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Dietary Assessment Methods

Background:

• Accurate food intake estimation is crucial for nutritional research.
• Matching foods to nutrient databases like the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS) is a common method.
• Different matching procedures can impact the reliability of dietary intake data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate how various food matching procedures to the FNDDS database affect food intake estimates.
• To compare energy intake estimates derived from different methods, including the PortionSize app and digital photography of foods (DPF).

Main Methods:

• Adult participants used the PortionSize app (with a subset of FNDDS codes) to estimate meals.
• Actual food intake was measured using a covert weigh-back method.
• Combination foods were analyzed by summing individual nutrient values or using a single composite code.
• Raters used the digital photography of foods (DPF) method with food images from the PortionSize app, referencing either the PortionSize FNDDS or the full FNDDS.

Main Results:

• Participant energy intake estimates using the PortionSize FNDDS were equivalent to rater estimates.
• Raters' energy intake estimates were similar whether using the PortionSize FNDDS or the full FNDDS.
• DPF energy estimates using the full FNDDS closely aligned with weigh-back measurements.
• Estimating energy intake using a single FNDDS code for combination foods did not match estimates derived from summing individual nutrient values.

Conclusions:

• The full FNDDS combined with the DPF method provides reliable energy intake estimates comparable to direct weighing.
• Using a single composite code for combination foods may lead to inaccurate nutrient estimations.
• The PortionSize app and its integrated FNDDS subset offer a viable tool for dietary intake estimation.