Validation of 24-hour dietary recall: a study in hemodialysis patients

The 24-hour dietary recall method is frequently used for dietary assessment. However, it is subject to errors by both respondent and observer bias and is largely influenced by the motivation and recall ability of the respondent. The weighment method is regarded as the gold standard for estimating nutrient intake. This study was undertaken to assess the validity of dietary recall in a group of seven maintenance hemodialysis patients, who also had corresponding weighed food records. Actual food consumed and residue were weighed separately. A dietary recall was taken on the next day. Subjects were not allowed to take any food or beverage other than that served during the study period. A good agreement was obtained between dietary recall and the weighed food record (the difference was within 10% of the results of weighment), although there was a consistent underestimate by dietary recall. The results also suggested a training effect since improved recall was noted during the later weeks of the study, although this difference was not statistically significant. Therefore, dietary recall as a method of dietary assessment may be of special value in chronic hemodialysis patients in India, who are usually a motivated and informed group.