Scientific Reports (Sep 2023)

Biomarker-based validation of a food frequency questionnaire for the assessment of omega-3 fatty acid status in a healthy Iranian population

  • Nasim Abedimanesh,
  • Behrooz Motlagh,
  • Jalal Hejazi,
  • Mohammad Reza Eskandari,
  • Mohammad Asghari-Jafarabadi,
  • Saeideh Mazloomzadeh

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41623-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract There is no valid instrument to assess n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) intake in Iran. This study aims to develop a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that estimates the intake of n-3 PUFA and validate it in a healthy Iranian population based on the n-3 PUFA content of red blood cells (RBCs) and a 3-day food record (FR). A healthy population (n = 221) was recruited between February and July 2021. Participants completed the new FFQ and 3-day FR to evaluate the average intake of n-3 PUFAs. We used gas chromatography to assess the n-3 PUFA content of RBCs. To validate the FFQ based on FR and biomarker as references, the correlation coefficient was calculated. According to the Bland–Altman plots, a good agreement was found between the new FFQ and FR. Moreover, absolute intake values of ALA, EPA, DPA, DHA, and total n-3 PUFAs based on FFQ were positively correlated to their respective RBC membrane levels (coefficients between 0.205 and 0.508, p < 0.005) and FR (coefficients between 0.771 and 0.827, p < 0.001). This new FFQ is a valid instrument that can be applied to estimate the n-3 PUFA status of healthy Iranian adults.