Securing accurate measurements of dietary intake across populations is challenging. Of the methods, self-reported 24-h recalls are often used in low-income countries (LICs) because they are quick, ...culturally sensitive, do not require high cognitive ability, and provide quantitative data on both foods and nutrients. Measuring intakes via 24-h recalls involves 1) collecting data on food intakes, 2) the appropriate use of relevant food-composition data for calculating nutrient intakes, and 3) statistically converting observed intakes to “usual intakes” for evaluating nutrient adequacy or relations between foods and nutrients and health outcomes. Like all dietary methods, 24-h recalls are subject to random errors that lower the precision and systematic errors that can reduce accuracy at each stage of the measurement protocol. Research has identified the potential sources of measurement errors in 24-h recall protocols and emphasized that sources of random error can be reduced by incorporating standardized quality-control procedures and collecting more than one 24-h recall per person, with the number depending on the study objective. Careful design of the initial 24-h recall protocol can take into account potential sources of systematic error, such as day of the week, season, age, etc. Other sources of systematic error (e.g., energy underreporting) can best be detected by including a reference measure (e.g., doubly labeled water to measure energy expenditure). Alternatively, 24-h recall intakes of energy can be compared with same-day weighed intakes. Nevertheless, very few studies in LICs have assessed the validity of 24-h recalls in their study settings or adopted recommended standardized protocols to mitigate random errors. Hence, efforts should be made to improve the assessment, analysis, and interpretation of self-reported 24-h recall data for population studies in LICs. Accurate and precise dietary intake data at the national level can play an essential role in informing food, nutrition, and agricultural policies; food fortification planning; and compliance to food-based dietary guidelines.
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Nutrition policies recommend limiting the intake of added sugars. Information about added sugar content is not provided on packaged foods in Brazil, and even total sugar content ...information is often absent. This study aimed to (i) adapt a systematic methodology for estimating added sugar content in packaged foods when information on total and added sugar contents is not mandatory on labels, (ii) apply the adapted methodology to a Brazilian food composition database to estimate the extent of added sugar content in the national food supply, and (iii) assess the validity of the adapted methodology. We developed an 8-step protocol to estimate added sugar content using information provided on food labels. These steps included objective and subjective estimation procedures. Mean, median, and quartiles of the added sugar content of 4,805 Brazilian foods were determined and presented by food categories. Validity was assessed using a US database containing values of added sugar as displayed on the product labels. Objective estimation of added sugar content could be conducted for 3,119 products (64.9%), with the remainder 1,686 (35.1%) being assessed using subjective estimation. We found that 3,093 (64.4%) foods contained added sugar ingredients and the overall estimated median added sugar content was 4.7 g (interquartile range 0–29.3) per 100 g or 100 ml. The validity testing on US data for products with known added sugar values showed excellent agreement between estimated and reported added sugar values (ICC = 0.98). This new methodology is a useful approach for estimating the added sugar content of products in countries where both added and total sugar information are not mandated on food labels. The method can be used to monitor added sugar levels and support interventions aimed at limiting added sugar intake.
Increasing food security is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. One of the main risks in food is the increase in food contaminants. Processing methods, such as the addition of additives or heat ...treatment, influence contaminant generation and increase their levels in food. The aim of the present study was to create a database using a methodology similar to that of food composition databases but with a focus on potential food contaminants. CONT11 collects information on 11 contaminants: hydroxymethyl-2-furfural, pyrraline, Amadori compounds, furosine, acrylamide, furan, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzopyrene, nitrates, nitrites and nitrosamines. This is collected for more than 220 foods obtained from 35 different data sources. A food frequency questionnaire validated for use with children was used to validate the database. Contaminant intake and exposure in 114 children aged 10–11 years were estimated. Outcomes were within the range of values described by other studies, confirming the usefulness of CONT11. This database will allow nutrition researchers to go a step further in assessing dietary exposure to some food components and the association of this with disease, whilst also informing strategies to reduce exposure.
•The adaptation to contaminants of food composition databases is effective.•CONT11 is presented as a robust database for 11 food contaminants.•Knowledge of foods responsible of contaminants exposure allows strategies to reduce consumption.•Exposure to contaminants in children were similar to those described by other studies.
Food pantries are part of the food environment that serve as a resource to individuals having low or very low food security. Determining whether or not application of two US Department of Agriculture ...food composition databases to foods in the food pantry environment estimate nutrient means differently will inform interventions aimed to improve these food environments.
To quantify and compare amounts of key nutrients within the food items included in eight midwestern food pantry inventories and evaluate the quality of the match of these foods as assigned to two food composition databases, the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies 2013-2014 and the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference version 28.
This cross-sectional, secondary analysis used data from Voices for Food Clinical Trial (2014).
Food pantry inventories were recorded from four food pantries in Indiana and four in South Dakota from US Department of Agriculture-classified nonmetro counties with high poverty.
Main outcomes measured were least square nutrient means for the total food pantry inventory and by food group.
Ranked nutrient means and food-match scores that quantified how closely the recorded description matched the database food descriptions were estimated and compared between databases using the Wilcoxon unpaired two-sample test and Fisher exact test. Multiple one-way adjusted analysis of covariance tested for significant differences in least square mean nutrient values between databases.
For the total pantry inventory, ranked least square means of total fiber; calcium; potassium; vitamins C, D, A, and B-12; choline; and sodium differed significantly between databases, whereas among all food groups, vitamins A and D differed. Food items in the total pantry inventory more closely matched with the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference version 28 than the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies 2013-2014 (P < 0.0001).
National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference version 28 more closely matches food items from Midwestern food pantry inventories compared with the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies 2013-2014.
Quinoa, amaranth and purple corn are Andean cereals largely consumed in North of Argentina. Nutrient analysis with the purpose of inclusion in the Argentinean FCDB and e-search EuroFIR has become ...urgent matter. In this work proximate and mineral profile of Andean cereals cultivated in the North of Argentina were determined and compared with rice. Proximate analysis showed that Andean cereals have similar profile but significantly higher (p<0.05) than rice. Andean cereals are rich sources of iron, copper, manganese and zinc and better than rice. Phosphorus and magnesium quinoa content could contribute up to 55% of consumers DRI. Andean cereals and rice are poor sources of potassium. To guarantee the interchange of data among users and producers of FCDB component values were obtained in compliance with EuroFIR guidelines for compilation process. Present work provides necessary information to FCDB users who wish to have access to food reference analytical parameters.
•National food composition databases play a key role in public health nutrition.•Food composition databases are needed to assess the adequacy of nutrient intake.•A constant effort is needed to keep ...food composition databases up-to-date.•Chemical analyses are essential to ensure the quality of food composition data.•Branded food databases provide new opportunities and challenges.
Public health nutrition is the promotion of nutrition-related health of populations. This paper aims to show the essential role of food composition databases for public health nutrition using examples from the Netherlands, and to point to gaps and needs for the future. Food composition databases play a role in the Assessment, Analyses and Action phases of public health nutrition. An important activity in the Assessment phase is the identification of nutrients for which intake is too low or too high. Moreover, food composition databases are needed to Analyse the dietary problems; for example to identify the main food sources of nutrients for which intake is too high. In the Action phase, food composition data are among others used to inform consumers about the nutritional content of foods. Gaps and needs for food composition databases are related to the rapidly changing food markets and to new nutritional and health interests. ICT developments and the availability of branded food databases provide new opportunities and challenges. Additionally, there is a need for continued improvement of international harmonisation of food composition databases to enable international research and comparisons. In conclusion, national food composition databases are essential for public health nutrition. A constant effort is needed to keep them up-to-date and of good quality.
•The FCT includes 447 foods (raw: 391; cooked: 56) with precise food description.•Provides data on 89 components includes proximate, minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, amino acids, antinutrients and ...phytochemicals.•Compliance with Key food approach (primary analytical values on 54 prioritized local foods of their dominant varieties.•Inclusion of selected traditional recipes with single ingredient recipes.•Application of International Guidelines for the development of robust and comprehensive food composition database.
Valid and reliable food composition data have a crucial role in all nutrition-related activities in a country. However, existing food composition tables in Bangladesh date back to 1970s and are outdated in terms of data quality. Consequently, it was imperative to revise the food composition table for Bangladesh (FCTB). This paper describes the generation of an updated food composition database (FCDB) for Bangladesh following international standards. Primary analytical values from 74 foods (including 54 prioritized key foods (KFs)) were generated through component-specific Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) or other internationally accredited methods. Secondary compositional values (analytical, estimated, borrowed, or calculated) were assembled and compiled in accordance with the International Network of Food Data Systems (INFOODS) guidelines and standards. The FCDB now contains updated and well-structured reliable values for 447 foods and 89 components that will have important usages for all stakeholders in the country and elsewhere.
Country-specific food composition databases (FCDB) are key resources in addressing nutrition and health-related concerns in a country. A multi-sectoral, multi-national project was initiated with the ...objective to develop the first country specific FCDB and tables for the country. A sequential exploratory approach was employed, commencing with desktop research collecting relevant information prior to completing a scoping mission which informed the approach and subsequent methods employed. Capacity building, data collection, quality assessment, compilation and quality assurance resulted in a DB comprising 316 food items, 8 food groups and 42 components. The baby food group encompassed the largest group contributing 27%, while fats and oils contributed 2% of foods to the DB. Malawian literature contributed 63%, of which peer-reviewed literature and student physicochemical research projects added 43% and 54%, respectively. Twenty-three percent of Malawian data comprised recipes with staples the largest contributor at 45%. The percentage of missing values respectively ranged between 13% and 51% for thiamin and biotin, while ranging between 5.4% and 68% for iron and selenium, respectively. The proximate profile except for ash was complete. Leveraging existing scientific literature, research projects, platforms and networks proved to be a viable approach to establish a country-specific FCDB and food composition data system in the country.
•Harnessing scientific literature and networks to establish a composition database.
•AOAC 2011.25 method generally shows higher dietary fibre than AOAC 991.43 method.•Differences are mainly explained by inclusion of LMWSDF in AOAC 2011.25.•Choice of method for dietary fibre ...determination impacts upon dietary fibre content.•Novel AOAC methods for dietary fibre analysis urge update of food composition databases.
The definition of dietary fibre was modified by Codex Alimentarius commission in 2009, and now includes low molecular weight soluble dietary fibre. This prompted the development of new methods for determination of dietary fibre, such as AOAC 2009.01 and AOAC 2011.25. We compared the dietary fibre contents of 45 different foods from six food groups, as sources of dietary fibre frequently consumed in Slovenia. Dietary fibre was determined with methods AOAC 991.43 and AOAC 2011.25, and the results were compared. Majority of results show significantly higher dietary fibres when determined using AOAC 2011.25. Differences can be explained by low molecular weight soluble dietary fibre, which is measured by AOAC 2011.25. New methods for dietary fibre determination have impacts on national food composition databases, which remain mainly based on AOAC 991.43; defining the need to update food composition databases with data that include low molecular weight soluble dietary fibre.
This Special Issue collects research on and applications of the relationship between food, nutrition, and databases. The development of databases of nutrients, bioactive compounds, and metabolites ...are key tools for human health and public nutrition and represent resources for a wide range of applications in food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, epidemiology, and medicinal areas. The current research trends are highlighted.
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