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Evaluation of 2 × 24-h dietary recalls combined with a food-recording booklet, against a 7-day food-record method among schoolchildren

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages S77–S83 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the estimated energy, nutrient and food intake from the suggested trans-European methodology for undertaking representative dietary surveys among schoolchildren: 2 × 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDRs) combined with a food-recording booklet (FRB), using EPIC-Soft pc-program (the software developed to conduct 24-HDRs in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study), against a 7-day food-record (7-dFR) method among Danish schoolchildren.

Subjects/Methods:

A total of 74 children aged 7–8 years and 70 children aged 12–13 years were recruited through the Civil Registration System in Denmark. Each child and one of their parents completed two face-to-face 24-HDRs, combined with optional use of a FRB, followed by a 7-day-estimated FR.

Results:

Energy intake was significantly higher with the 24-HDR method than with the 7-dFR method for both age groups. Mean energy intake was 6% higher for the youngest (P=0.02) and 11% for the oldest children (P=0.01); underreporting of energy occurs among the oldest children, being less present with the 24-HDR method. The intakes of carbohydrate and dietary fiber (absolute and related to energy) were significantly higher with the 24-HDR than with the 7-dFR for both age groups (P<0.001). No significant differences between the two methods were observed for absolute intake of fat and added sugar between both age groups, and for intake of protein among the 7- to 8-year olds. The percentage of energy intake from fat from the 24-HDR, however, was significantly lower for both age groups and for energy intake from added sugar for the 12- to 13-year olds.

Conclusions:

The 2 × 24-HDR method compared with the 7-dFR yields relatively good values on the group level for many macronutrients and foods. However, some differences in estimated intakes of macronutrients suggest the need to carefully adapt the tools to be age and country specific. There is a tendency for parents and schoolchildren to report a healthier diet with the 24-HDR than with the FRs; this results in some concern about the method and has to be studied further.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the interviewers in Denmark, Anne Arendt, Mia Hjort Frandsen and Inger Merete Licht Hansen, and the data management team, Karsten Kørup, Henrik Hartkopp, Karin Hess Ygil and Tue Christensen. We also thank the participating children, parents and other proxy persons. The content of this article reflects only our views, and the Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. The Community funding under the Sixth Framework Program for the ‘European Food Consumption and Validation’ Project is acknowledged (FOOD-CT-2006-022895).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nutrition, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Soeborg, Denmark

    E Trolle & M Ege

  2. Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, San Sebastian and CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain

    P Amiano & E Bower

  3. Food intake and Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, French agency for food, environmental and occupational health safety (ANSES), Maisons-Alfort, France

    S Lioret

  4. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    H Brants & E J de Boer

  5. Akademija Medicinskih Znanostl Hrvatske, Zagreb, Croatia

    A Kaic-Rak

  6. Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    L F Andersen

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  1. E Trolle
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  2. P Amiano
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Correspondence to E Trolle.

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Trolle, E., Amiano, P., Ege, M. et al. Evaluation of 2 × 24-h dietary recalls combined with a food-recording booklet, against a 7-day food-record method among schoolchildren. Eur J Clin Nutr 65 (Suppl 1), S77–S83 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.90

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