Katherine L. Tucker
Assessment of usual dietary intake in population studies of gene–diet interaction
Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|Tufts University
dietary intake critical environmental exposure considering effect many genetic factors disease risk however dietary intake complex changing measure requires particular care assessmentalthough weighed diet records theoretically provide accurate assessment intake usually realistic large population studies due heavy respondent burden likelihood poor compliance cost data entry multiple 24h dietary recalls provide excellent detail allowing diverse dietary practices costly require multiple contacts participants food frequency questionnaires costeffective tool assessing usual intake particularly micronutrients high daytoday variability however limitations diverse populations recent studies questioned ability measure macronutrient intakes assessing diet disease relationshipsat present time food frequencies remain costeffective tool large population studies however limitations must fully appreciated demonstration validity nutrients concern populations study essential macronutrients key interest consideration given use multiple recalls records may used educated compliant populations continued efforts improve dietary assessment methodology must investigated