Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008) 62, 104–110; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602676; published online 21 February 2007

Evaluation of a 2-day food record to determine iron, calcium and vitamin C intake in young Belgian women

Guarantor: I Pynaert.

Contributors: IP designed the study, analysed and interpreted the data and wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. CM assisted in designing the study, interpretation of the data and preparing the manuscript. DDB gave statistical advice and assisted in interpretation of the data and preparation of the manuscript. GDB assisted in the interpretation of the data and preparation of the manuscript. SDH assisted in designing the study, interpreting the data and preparation of the manuscript.

I Pynaert1, C Matthys1, D De Bacquer1, G De Backer1 and S De Henauw1,2

  1. 1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
  2. 2Department of Health Care, Division of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vesalius, Hogeschool Gent, Belgium

Correspondence: I Pynaert, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, UZ – 2 Blok A, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. E-mail: Ilse.Pynaert@UGent.be

Received 21 December 2005; Revised 17 August 2006; Accepted 9 January 2007; Published online 21 February 2007.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

Evaluation of a 2-day food record (FR) for the assessment of iron, calcium and vitamin C intake.

Design:

 

In a subsample of a large-scale epidemiological study, iron, calcium and vitamin C intake were estimated using a 2-day FR and compared to the nutrient intakes assessed by an 11-day FR (reference method).

Setting:

 

City of Ghent, Dutch speaking part of Belgium.

Subjects:

 

A number of 51 non-pregnant women (18–39 years).

Results:

 

Mean iron, calcium and vitamin C intakes were not significantly different between the reference method and 2-day FR. Correlation coefficients of 0.63 (iron) and 0.76 (calcium, vitamin C) were reached. The iron intake of 95% of the individuals assessed by the 2-day FR varied between 5 mg above or below the reference intake. Over 50% of the women were correctly classified and 4% or fewer were extremely misclassified by the 2-day FR. Mean 11-day FR intakes increased progressively over the tertiles defined by the 2-day FR. The 11-day energy intake was under-reported by 28% of the women; no over-reporters were identified.

Conclusions:

 

The 2-day FR is able to estimate mean iron, calcium and vitamin C intake and to rank individuals along the distribution of intakes.

Sponsorship:

 

Fund for Scientific Research – Flanders (Belgium).

Keywords:

iron, food record, evaluation

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