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Lipids and Cardiovascular/Metabolic Health

Comparison of fatty acid intakes assessed by a cardiovascular-specific food frequency questionnaire with red blood cell membrane fatty acids in hyperlipidaemic Australian adults: a validation study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, pages 1433–1438 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Limited dietary intake tools have been validated specifically for hyperlipidaemic adults. The Australian Eating Survey (AES) Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was adapted to include foods with cardio-protective properties (CVD-AES). The aims were to estimate dietary fatty acid (FA) intakes derived from the CVD-AES and AES and compare them with red blood cell (RBC) membrane FA content.

Subjects/Methods:

Dietary intake was measured using the semi-quantitative 120-item AES and 177-item CVD-AES. Nutrient intakes were calculated using AUSNUT 2011–2013. Fasting RBC membrane FAs were assessed using gas chromatography. Extent of agreement between intakes estimated by AES or CVD-AES and RBC membrane composition (% of total FAs) for linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were assessed using Spearman’s correlation coefficients, adjusted linear regressions and Kappa statistics.

Results:

Data from 39 participants (72% female, 59.3±11.1 years) indicate stronger positive correlations between RBC membrane FAs and CVD-AES dietary estimates compared with the AES. Significant (P<0.05) moderate-strong correlations were found between CVD-AES FAs and FA proportions in RBC membranes for EPA (r=0.62), DHA (r=0.53) and DPA (r=0.42), with a moderate correlation for LA (r=0.39) and no correlation with ALA. Significant moderate correlations were found with the AES for DHA (r=0.39), but not for LA, ALA, EPA or DPA.

Conclusions:

The CVD-AES provides a more accurate estimate of long chain FA intakes in hyperlipidaemic adults, compared with AES estimates. This indicates that a CVD-specific FFQ should be used when evaluating FA intakes in this population.

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Acknowledgements

This study forms part of Tracy Schumacher’s PhD thesis. Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Newcastle Human Research Committee, H-2013-0420. The researchers wish to acknowledge Neil J Spratt for his contribution to study design and participant screening and Rebecca Williams for the analysis of the red blood cell membranes. The researchers also wish to acknowledge the support of the HMRI Research Volunteer Register for their assistance in participant recruitment. This study was supported by a grant (HMRI 13–46) from the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia

    T L Schumacher, T L Burrows, M E Rollo, L G Wood, R Callister & C E Collins

  2. Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, ATC Building, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia

    T L Schumacher, T L Burrows, M E Rollo, R Callister & C E Collins

  3. Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Disease, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia

    L G Wood

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Correspondence to C E Collins.

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Schumacher, T., Burrows, T., Rollo, M. et al. Comparison of fatty acid intakes assessed by a cardiovascular-specific food frequency questionnaire with red blood cell membrane fatty acids in hyperlipidaemic Australian adults: a validation study. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 1433–1438 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.144

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