Validity and Reliability of an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Food Frequency Questionnaire for First-Generation Midwestern Latinas

Authors

Karina R. Lora, University of ConnecticutFollow
Nancy M. Lewis, University of Nebraska--LincolnFollow
Kent M. Eskridge, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Kaye Stanek-Krogstrand, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Paula K. Ritter-Gooder, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Kent M. Eskridge

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

8-2010

Comments

Published in Nutrition Research 30:8 (August 2010), pp. 550–557; doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2010.07.007 Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. Used by permission. http://wwww.nrjournal.com

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that a culturally developed omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) could be an accurate instrument to capture n-3 fatty acid food intakes of first-generation Midwestern Latinas. The goal of the study was to assess validity and test-retest reliability of an FFQ to estimate total n-3 fatty acid (total n-3), α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intakes. An n-3 FFQ was developed and pilot tested. Two FFQs and 3 nonconsecutive 24-hour recalls were collected from 162 participants. Pearson correlation and paired t test were used to test the hypothesis. Correlation of the 2 FFQs was 0.71 for total n-3, 0.65 for ALA, 0.74 for EPA, and 0.54 for DHA (P < .01). The means of the 2 FFQs and of the 24-hour recalls were not significantly different for total n-3 and ALA (P > .05), but were significantly different for EPA and DHA. The n-3 FFQ had acceptable reliability, validated only total n-3 and ALA, and provided relevant findings about the n-3 eating habits of Midwestern Latinas