Evaluation of energy intake estimated by a diet history in three free-living 70 year old populations in Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the credibility of estimates of energy intake from a Diet History (DH) by cut off limits for the multiple of energy intake and basal metabolic rate (EI/BMR_est) and by physical activity levels (PAL, total energy expenditure=TEE/BMR).

DESIGN: Cohort study.

SETTING: Departments of Geriatric Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Göteborg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.

SUBJECTS: 369 males and 440 females from three representative cohorts of free-living individuals from the gerontological and geriatric population studies—H70.

RESULTS: Mean values for EI/BMR_est was 1.50 and 1.60 in males and 1.48 and 1.49 in females according to Schofield, Schofield and James (1985) and DHSS 41 (1991), respectively. A significant trend was seen when the sample was stratified at different levels of EI/BMR_est with higher body weight, lower EI, higher proportion of energy from protein and lower of proportion energy from fat in the group with the lower values of EI/BMR_est. A significant difference was shown regarding food choice expressed as proportion of energy from ten defined food groups with respect to different EI/BMR_est values. Lean body mass (LBM) by bioelectric impedance (BIA) correlated well with BMR according to DHSS 41 (1991), 0.90 for males and 0.87 for females.

CONCLUSION: Energy intake was underreported with the DH method—especially in over-weight individuals. Reported food choice varied with EI/BMR values. EI/BMR_est limits are useful for detecting underestimation of habitual energy intake.

SPONSORSHIP: See Acknowledgements.