Reliability of a Short Diet and Vitamin Supplement Questionnaire for Retrospective Collection of Maternal Nutrient Intake

Overview

Journal Glob Epidemiol

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Jul 10

PMID 38983951

Authors

Rebecca J Schmidt

Amanda J Goodrich

Lauren Granillo

Yunru Huang

Paula Krakowiak

Adrianne Widaman

J Erin Dienes

Deborah H Bennett

Cheryl K Walker

Daniel J Tancredi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Gestational nutrition can protect against adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Objectives: We developed a short tool for collecting maternal nutritional intake during pregnancy to facilitate research in this area and compared its retrospective use to prospectively-collected food frequency questionnaires (FFQ).

Methods: Maternal nutritional intake was retrospectively assessed using three versions (full interview, full self-administered online, and shortened interview) of the Early Life Exposure Assessment Tool (ELEAT) among participants of the MARBLES pregnancy cohort study of younger siblings of autistic children. Retrospective responses were compared with responses to supplement questions and the validated 2005 Block FFQ prospectively collected in MARBLES during pregnancies 2-7 years prior. ELEAT nutrient values were calculated using reported food intake frequencies and nutrient values from the USDA nutrient database. Correlations between retrospectively- and prospectively-reported intake were evaluated using Kappa coefficients, Youden's J, and Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficients (r).

Results: MARBLES FFQ dietary intakes were compared among 54 women who completed the ELEAT full form including 12 online, and among 23 who completed the ELEAT short form. Correlations across most foods were fair to moderate. Most ELEAT quantified nutrient values were moderately correlated (r = 0.3-0.6) with those on the Block FFQ. Supplement questions in both MARBLES and the ELEAT were completed by 114 women. Kappas were moderate for whether or not supplements were taken, but modest for timing. Correlations varied by version and child diagnosis or concerns, and were higher when mothers completed the ELEAT when their child was 4 years old or younger.

Conclusions: With recall up to several years, ELEAT dietary and supplement module responses were modestly to moderately reliable and produced nutrient values moderately correlated with prospectively-collected measures. The ELEAT dietary and vitamin supplements modules can be used to rank participants in terms of intake of several nutrients relevant for neurodevelopment.

References

Nevins J, Donovan S, Snetselaar L, Dewey K, Novotny R, Stang J . Omega-3 Fatty Acid Dietary Supplements Consumed During Pregnancy and Lactation and Child Neurodevelopment: A Systematic Review. J Nutr. 2021; 151(11):3483-3494. PMC: 8764572. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxab238. View

Lord C, Risi S, Lambrecht L, Cook Jr E, Leventhal B, DiLavore P . The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: a standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2000; 30(3):205-23. View

Ma Y, Olendzki B, Pagoto S, Hurley T, Magner R, Ockene I . Number of 24-hour diet recalls needed to estimate energy intake. Ann Epidemiol. 2009; 19(8):553-9. PMC: 2803049. DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2009.04.010. View

Chawarska K, Shic F, Macari S, Campbell D, Brian J, Landa R . 18-month predictors of later outcomes in younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder: a baby siblings research consortium study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014; 53(12):1317-1327.e1. PMC: 4254798. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2014.09.015. View

. Folic Acid for the prevention of neural tube defects: recommendation statement. Am Fam Physician. 2010; 82(12):1526-7. View

Block G, Hartman A, Dresser C, CARROLL M, Gannon J, Gardner L . A data-based approach to diet questionnaire design and testing. Am J Epidemiol. 1986; 124(3):453-69. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114416. View

Boucher B, Cotterchio M, Kreiger N, Nadalin V, Block T, Block G . Validity and reliability of the Block98 food-frequency questionnaire in a sample of Canadian women. Public Health Nutr. 2006; 9(1):84-93. DOI: 10.1079/phn2005763. View

Guo B, Li H, Zhai D, Ding S . Maternal multivitamin supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of autism spectrum disorder in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Res. 2019; 65:4-16. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2019.02.003. View

Millen A, Midthune D, Thompson F, Kipnis V, Subar A . The National Cancer Institute diet history questionnaire: validation of pyramid food servings. Am J Epidemiol. 2005; 163(3):279-88. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwj031. View

10.

Lord C, Rutter M, Le Couteur A . Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised: a revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 1994; 24(5):659-85. DOI: 10.1007/BF02172145. View

11.

Mannisto S, Virtanen M, Mikkonen T, Pietinen P . Reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire in a case-control study on breast cancer. J Clin Epidemiol. 1996; 49(4):401-9. DOI: 10.1016/0895-4356(95)00551-x. View

12.

Sullivan E, Nousen E, Chamlou K . Maternal high fat diet consumption during the perinatal period programs offspring behavior. Physiol Behav. 2012; 123:236-42. PMC: 3594403. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.07.014. View

13.

Tayyem R, Allehdan S, Mustafa L, Thekraallah F, Al-Asali F . Validity and Reproducibility of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Estimating Macro- and Micronutrient Intakes Among Pregnant Women in Jordan. J Am Coll Nutr. 2019; 39(1):29-38. DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2019.1570878. View

14.

Schmidt R, Lyall K, Hertz-Picciotto I . Environment and Autism: Current State of the Science. Cut Edge Psychiatry Pract. 2016; 1(4):21-38. PMC: 4955700. View

15.

Ozonoff S, Young G, Carter A, Messinger D, Yirmiya N, Zwaigenbaum L . Recurrence risk for autism spectrum disorders: a Baby Siblings Research Consortium study. Pediatrics. 2011; 128(3):e488-95. PMC: 3164092. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2010-2825. View

16.

Huang Y, Iosif A, Hansen R, Schmidt R . Maternal polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk for autism spectrum disorder in the high-risk study. Autism. 2020; 24(5):1191-1200. PMC: 9897595. DOI: 10.1177/1362361319877792. View

17.

Schaefer E, Augustin J, Schaefer M, Rasmussen H, Ordovas J, Dallal G . Lack of efficacy of a food-frequency questionnaire in assessing dietary macronutrient intakes in subjects consuming diets of known composition. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000; 71(3):746-51. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/71.3.746. View

18.

Block G, Coyle L, Hartman A, Scoppa S . Revision of dietary analysis software for the Health Habits and History Questionnaire. Am J Epidemiol. 1994; 139(12):1190-6. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116965. View

19.

Suren P, Roth C, Bresnahan M, Haugen M, Hornig M, Hirtz D . Association between maternal use of folic acid supplements and risk of autism spectrum disorders in children. JAMA. 2013; 309(6):570-7. PMC: 3908544. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.155925. View

20.

Schlotz W, Jones A, Phillips D, Gale C, Robinson S, Godfrey K . Lower maternal folate status in early pregnancy is associated with childhood hyperactivity and peer problems in offspring. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2009; 51(5):594-602. PMC: 2862762. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02182.x. View