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Validation of self-reported energy intake by a self-administered diet history questionnaire using the doubly labeled water method in 140 Japanese adults

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 1343–1350 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To validate reported energy intake (rEI) with a self-administered diet history questionnaire (DHQ) against total energy expenditure (TEE) by the doubly labeled water (DLW) method.

Subjects:

A total of 140 healthy Japanese adults (67 men and 73 women) aged 20–59 years living in four areas in Japan.

Methods:

Energy intake was assessed twice with DHQ over a 1-month period before and after TEE measurement (rEIDHQ1 and rEIDHQ2, respectively). TEE was measured by DLW during 2 weeks (TEEDLW).

Results:

Mean rEIDHQ1 was lower than those of TEEDLW by 1.9±2.4 MJ/day (16.4%, P<0.001) for men and 0.6±1.9 MJ/day (6.0%, P<0.01) for women. In men and women together, 62 subjects (44%) were defined as underreporters (rEIDHQ1/TEEDLW <0.84), 58 (41%) as acceptable reporters (0.84–1.16) and 20 (14%) as over-reporters (>1.16). Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.34 for men and 0.22 for women. After adjustment for the dietary and non-dietary factors related to rEIDHQ1/TEEDLW, the correlation coefficient improved to 0.42 and 0.37, respectively.

Conclusion:

The energy intake assessed with DHQ correlated low to modestly with TEE measured by DLW. In addition, DHQ underestimated energy intake at a group level. Caution is needed when energy intake was evaluated by DHQ at both individual and group levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition Science, Kagawa Nutrition University, Saitama, Japan

    H Okubo

  2. Nutritional Epidemiology Program, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan

    H Okubo & S Sasaki

  3. Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Physical Education, Shanghai, PR China

    H H Rafamantanantsoa

  4. Health Promotion and Exercise Program, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan

    K Ishikawa-Takata, H Okazaki & I Tabata

Authors
  1. H Okubo
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  2. S Sasaki
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  3. H H Rafamantanantsoa
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  4. K Ishikawa-Takata
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  5. H Okazaki
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  6. I Tabata
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Correspondence to S Sasaki.

Additional information

Guarantor: S Sasaki.

Contributors: HO conducted the field management, data collection, statistical analysis and wrote the paper. SS conducted the study design and edited the paper. HHR, KIT and HO conducted data collection and IRMS analyses. IT conducted the overall management. All authors participated in the discussion and interpretation of the results, and in drafting and editing the paper.

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Okubo, H., Sasaki, S., Rafamantanantsoa, H. et al. Validation of self-reported energy intake by a self-administered diet history questionnaire using the doubly labeled water method in 140 Japanese adults. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 1343–1350 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602858

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