Formålet med undersøgelsen var at finde ud af, hvorvidt gravide kvinder på Færøerne fik en kost, som er i overensstemmelse med rekommandationer der foreligger gravide. 148 kvinder deltog i undersøgelsen, hvor der blev gennemført tre 24 h recall og seks selvregistreringer, samt et food frequency qeistionnaire omhandlende de sidste 12 måneder. Resultatet af den samlede energi, energifordeling, A-, C-, D- og E-vitaminer, og folsyre, jern og calcium er sammenlignet med de rekommandationer der foreligger for gravide i de nordiske lande, specielt Danmark, idet Færøerne følger de danske anbefalinger. Det gennemsnitlige energiindtag var 10,0 MJ, som i gennemsnit fordelte sig i henhold til kostanbefalingerne med 15% proteiner, 52% kulhydrater og 33% fedt. Kostfiberindtaget var lavere end anbefalet, 17,4 gram per dag. Mættede og monoumættede fedtsyrer fulgte anbefalingerne, men indtaget af polyumættede fedtsyrer var lavt, 3,6%. Indtaget af n-3 fedtsyrer var 0,6%, som er lavere end anbefalet. Indtaget at C-vitaminer og calcium var tilstrækkeligt gennem kosten. Indtaget af de andre vitaminer og mineraler var mindre end anbefalingerne. 85% tager vitamintilskud og 64% tager jerntilskud. Indtaget af fisk var 280 gram per uge, kornprodukter 323 gram per dag, kød 193 gram per dag, sødesager 128 gram per dag, frugt og grønt 193 gram per dag, frugt juice 98 gram per dag. Resultatet fra denne opgave kan sætte større fokus på kost og graviditet, samt at der er et behov for en større og mere indgående kostundersøgelse blandt den generelle befolkning, hvis resultater kan bruges i sundhedsfremmende arbejde. / The purpose of this project was to find out whether pregnant women in the Faroe Islands had a dietary intake, which were in accordance with recommendations for pregnant women. 148 women participated in the survey, which involved three 24 hour recall and six days diary, and a food frequency questionnaire for the last 12 months. The results of total energy, the energy distribution of protein, carbohydrate and fat and the micronutrients vitamin-A, -C, -D, -E, folic acid, iron and calcium are compared with recommendations for pregnant women in the Nordic countries, especially from Denmark because the Faroe Islands follow the Danish recommendations. In average the total energy consumption per day was 10,0 MJ, and the distribution was 15% protein, 52% carbohydrates and 33% fat. Dietary fibre intake was 17,4 gram per day, which is lower than recommended. The intake of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids followed the recommendations whereas the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-3 fatty acids was lower then recommended, 3,6% and 0,6%. Supply of vitamin-C and calcium through the food was sufficient, whereas the supply of the other micronutrients was too low compare to recommendations. 85% of the women took vitamin supplements and 64% took iron supplements. Intake of fish was 280 gram per week, cereal products 323 gram per day, meat 139 gram per day, sweets 128 gram per day, fruit and vegetables 193 gram per day, fruit juice 98 gram per day. The results from this project can put a focus on the connection between diet and pregnancy as well as there is a need for a detailed dietary survey among the general population, where the results can used in further health promotion / <p>ISBN 91-7997-141-5</p>

Introdução A infecção por papilomavírus humano está entre as doenças sexualmente transmissíveis mais comuns no Mundo. Entre os diversos fatores associados, o estado nutricional inadequado pode aumentar o risco para ocorrência do HPV. Estudos já foram conduzidos descrevendo a associação entre nutriente e persistência do HPV em mulheres, no entanto, pouco se sabe a respeito da infecção por HPV e a sua relação com a dieta em homens. Objetivo: Investigar a dieta habitual em estudo longitudinal sobre a infecção por HPV em homens: O Estudo HIM. Métodos A população de estudo foi composta de 1336 homens com idade entre 19 e 70 anos. As variáveis sociais, demográficas e de estilo de vida foram obtidas por meio de questionários. O consumo alimentar foi avaliado por meio do Questionário Quantitativo de Freqüência Alimentar (QFA) e cinco recordatórios de 24h (R24h). A avaliação do desempenho do QFA foi feita por meio da diferença relativa entre as porções obtidas nos R24h e as porções padronizadas do QFA. Para avaliação da qualidade da dieta foi utilizado o Índice de Qualidade da Dieta- Revisado (IQD-R). Resultados Nenhum item alimentar teve diferença relativa menor que 20 por cento em todas as porções, pequena, média, grande e extragrande. Observou-se um aumento no coeficiente de correlação de energia entre os instrumentos ao substituir as porções padronizadas pelas porções obtidas no R24h. O IQD-R médio da população do estudo foi de 66,92±7,07 pontos. Conclusão O uso de porções provenientes da própria população na qual foi aplicado o questionário pode melhorar o desempenho do QFA. Por meio do IQD-R foi possível identificar associação entre qualidade da dieta e idade, escolaridade e hábito de fumar. / Background The human papillomavirus infection is among the most common sexually transmitted diseases around the world. Among the several associated factors, the unsatisfactory nutritional status may increase the risk of HPV. Studies describing the the association between nutrient and HPV persistence in women have already been conducted, however, very little about HPV infection and its relation with diet habits among men is known. Objective To investigate the usual diet through a longitudinal study about HPV infection among men: the HIM study. Methods: The study population was composed by 1336 men between 19 and 70 years old. The social, demographic and lifestyle variables were obtained through questionnaires. The food consumption was assessed through the Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ) and five 24-hour recall (R24h). The FFQ performance assessment was done through the relative difference among the portions obtained from the R24h and the standardized portions from FFQ. In order to assess the diet quality the revised version of the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index (IQD-R) was used. Results None of the food items had a relative difference under 20 per cent at all portions, small, medium large and extra-large. An increase at the correlation coefficient of energy and nutrients among the instruments when replacing the standardized portions by the portions obtained through the R24h was noticed. The average IQD-R of the population of the study was of 66,92±7,07 points. Conclusion The use of portions proceeding from the own population in which the questionnaire was submitted may improve the QFA performance. It was possible to identify the association between diet quality and age, education and smoking habits through the IQD-R.

Introdução. O estudo História Natural da Infecção por HPV em homens: O Estudo HIM será a primeira coorte prospectiva a investigar a história natural da infecção por HPV em homens dos Estados Unidos, Brasil e México. O questionário quantitativo de freqüência alimentar (QQFA) foi o método de escolha para a investigação do efeito dos fatores dietéticos sobre o processo da infecção. Objetivo. Avaliar o desempenho e estimar os fatores de calibração dos dados do QQFA utilizado no estudo HIM - Brasil, por meio de um estudo de validação, reprodutibilidade e calibração. Métodos. Uma amostra aleatória de 98 indivíduos do estudo HIM, com idades entre 18 e 70 anos, responderam, por meio de entrevista, a três QQFA e três recordatórios de 24 horas (R24h). O QQFA possui 54 itens alimentares e porções pré-determinadas (pequena, média, grande e extra grande). Avaliou-se a diferença entre os valores estimados pelos dois instrumentos e pelas duas aplicações do QQFA pelos coeficientes de correlação, pela concordância na classificação dos indivíduos por níveis de ingestão e pela metodologia proposta por Bland & Altman. A calibração foi feita por meio de análise de regressão linear, tendo o R24h, após deatenuação, como variável dependente e o último QQFA como variável independente, com os dados em seu logaritmo natural, ajustados pela energia. Idade, índice de massa corporal, atividade física, renda, escolaridade e o viés do relato presente no R24h foram utilizados como variáveis de ajuste nos modelos. Resultados. Os nutrientes melhor avaliados pelo QQFA foram carboidrato e fibra, com coeficientes de correlação de 0.42 e 0.46, respectivamente, para dados deatenuados. Estes nutrientes foram estimados pelo QQFA independentemente da magnitude do consumo. A estimativa da ingestão de gorduras pelo QQFA obteve os menores coeficientes de correlação e menores porcentagens de concordância entre os métodos. A análise de reprodutibilidade demonstrou que o QQFA possui precisão aceitável para avaliar a maioria dos nutrientes investigados. Os coeficientes de calibração variaram entre 0.03 para gordura total e 0.45 para fibras. O poder dos modelos (R2a) variou entre 0.01 para gordura monoinsaturada e polinsaturada e 0.81 para energia. Conclusão. Este estudo demonstrou que a medida da ingestão da população do estudo HIM Brasil por meio do QQFA avaliado é aceitável. A minimização dos erros de medida por meio da correção dos dados pela calibração é esperada. Entretanto, para analisar as relações entre os fatores dietéticos e a história da infecção por HPV em homens, dados corrigidos e não corrigidos pela calibração devem ser utilizados comparativamente. / Background. The study Natural History of HPV Infection in Men: The HIM Study will be the first prospective cohort to investigate the natural history of HPV infection in men from EUA, Brazil and Mexico. The quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) was the method of choice to investigate the role of dietetic factors on process of infection. Objective. To assess the performance and to estimate the calibration factors from the data of QFFQ used in HIM - Brazil study, by a validation, reproducibility and calibration study. Methods. A random sample of 98 individuals from the HIM study, with age range of 18 to 70 years, by an interview, answered three QFFQ and three 24-hour recall (24h-R). The 54-item QFFQ have pre-determinate portions (small, middle, large and extra large). The difference between the estimated values from the two methods and from the two replications of QFFQ was assessed using correlation coefficients, evaluation of categorization agreement among methods and among replications and Bland & Altman plots. The calibration coefficient was calculated by regression of the 24h-R data after deattenuation (dependent variable) on the QFFQ data (independent variable) in linear regression models, with data in natural logarithm, adjusted by energy. Age, body mass index, physical activity, income, education and bias on report from 24h-R were included to adjust the multiple models. Results. Carbohydrate and fiber were well estimated by the QFFQ, with 0.42 and 0.46 in correlation coefficients, respectively, to deattenuated data. These nutrients were estimated by the QFFQ regardless of the magnitude of the intake. The consumption of fats, assessed by the QFFQ, had the worst correlation coefficients and smallest percentage agreement between the questionnaire and the 24h-R. The reproducibility analysis demonstrated that the QFFQ have acceptable precision for most of the nutrients investigated. The calibration coefficients ranged between 0.03 (total fat) and 0.45 (fiber). The power models (R2a) ranged from 0.01 (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat) to 0.81 (energy). Conclusion. This study demonstrated that the QFFQ is acceptable to assess nutrient intake from participants of HIM Brazil study. Minimizing bias of measurement is expected correcting the data by calibration. However, to examine the relationship between dietary factors and history of HPV infection in men, data corrected and not corrected by the calibration must be used comparatively

Objective: To elaborate a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for patients with type 2 diabetes. Design: Dietary data using 3-day weighed diet records (WDR) from 188 outpatients with type 2 diabetes were used to construct the list of usually consumed foods. Foods were initially clustered into eight groups: “cereals, tubers, roots, and derivatives”; “vegetables”; “fruits”; “beans”; “meat and eggs”; “milk and dairy products”; “oils and fats”, and “sugars and sweets”. The frequency of food intake and the relative contribution of each food item to the total energy and nutrient intakes were calculated. A food was included if it contributed at least 80% to total energy or nutrient content in its respective food group. Portion sizes were determined according to the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles of intake for each food item. Setting: GNE - Group of Nutrition in Endocrinology - cohort - Southern Brazil. Subjects: Outpatients with type 2 diabetes. Results: A total of 62 food items were selected based on the 3-day WDR and another 27 foods or their preparation options and nine beverages were included after the expert examination, and accounted for 95% of total energy and nutrient intakes. Also, a portfolio with food photos of each included food item and its portion sizes was created to support the patients in identifying the consumed portion. Conclusions: We developed a practical quantitative FFQ and portfolio with photos of 98 food items covering the past 12 months of the most commonly consumed food items. This dietary method will be valuable to assess the usual diet pattern of patients with type 2 diabetes in Southern Brazil.

Espera-se que entre 2010 e 2050, a população mundial total terá um aumento de 2 bilhões de habitantes, ao passo que a população idosa chegará ao número de 1,3 bilhões de habitantes. Dentre os diversos fatores envolvidos com expectativa de vida longa, está bem estabelecido que o hábito alimentar desempenha um papel central para a saúde, o que torna importante o conhecimento do padrão alimentar nesta faixa etária. Para a avaliação da ingestão alimentar média a longo prazo em grande número de indivíduos, os Questionários de Frequência de Alimentos (QFAs) são instrumentos particularmente importantes. Objetivo: validar um questionário de frequência alimentar para idosos saudáveis. Casuística e Métodos: Participaram da pesquisa 43 idosos independentes, com a capacidade cognitiva e funcional preservadas, de ambos os gêneros, com idades > 60 anos. Foi avaliado o consumo alimentar dos indivíduos por meio de 3 recordatórios alimentares de 24 horas e um questionário de frequência alimentar, com o auxílio de um livro de fotografias para visualização do tamanho das porções dos alimentos. Como método padrão-ouro, foi utilizada a água duplamente marcada (DLW) para aferição do gasto energético total diário. Para a análise estatística, foi realizada análise descritiva dos dados, calculado o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman, construídos gráficos de dispersão e de Bland-Altman, e também o Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (ICC). Foi adotado o nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: foi observada excelente concordância entre o QFA e DLW para estimativa do consumo de energia em mulheres idosas, assim boa correlação entre o R24h e DLW para estimativa do consumo de energia em homens idosos. Não foram encontradas correlações significativas entre o QFA e DLW para estimativa do consumo de energia em ambos os sexos. Conclusão: Considerando que o objetivo desta pesquisa foi validar o QFA para os dois gêneros (homem e mulher), o mesmo não foi alcançado. / Introduction: It is expected that between 2010 and 2050, the total world population will increase by 2 billion inhabitants, while the elderly population will reach 1.3 billion. Among the many factors involved in long life expectancy, it is well established that eating habits play a central role in health, which makes it important to know the food pattern in this age group. For the evaluation of the long-term average food intake in a large number of individuals, Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) are particularly important instruments. Objective: to validate a food frequency questionnaire for healthy elderly. METHODS: Participants were 43 independent, with cognitive and functional capacity, of both genders, aged> 60 years. The individuals\' food consumption was evaluated through three 24-hour recalls and a food frequency questionnaire, with the aid of a photo book to visualize the size of the food portions. As a gold standard method, double-labeled water (DLW) was used to measure total daily energy expenditure. For the statistical analysis, a descriptive analysis of the data was performed, the Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated, the dispersion and Bland-Altman graphs were constructed, as well as the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). The significance level of 5% was adopted. Results: excellent concordance was observed between the QFA and DLW for estimation of energy consumption in elderly women, thus a good correlation between R24h and DLW for estimation of energy consumption in elderly men. No significant correlations were found between the QFA and DLW to estimate the energy consumption in both sexes. Conclusion: Considering that the objective of this research was to validate the FFQ for both genders (man and woman), the same was not achieved.

Mercury is a naturally existing element. It could be transported into human body through food chain, and harm the central nervous system. This is the first study to analyze the concentrations of mercury in different kinds of food in Taiwan. The purpose of the study was to assess the mercury intake of total diet and the health risk. Moreover, the concentration of hair mercury was used to evaluate the body burden. The mercury concentrations in foods were determined by furnace-gold amalgation mercury analyzer. Nine kinds of foods, fish, nonfish seafood, meats, soybean products, eggs, dairy products, vegetables, fruits and cereals were included in the sample. A total of 118 food composites with 574 samples were collected from three largest cities in Taiwan during 2004 to 2006. Dietary information of 446 Taiwanese was collected by using semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Meanwhile, both diet information and hair sample of 355 Taiwanese that were collected. The mean mercury concentrations of nine kinds of food were significantly different (p < 0.05), ranging from 0.5 to 82.9 ng/g wet wt. The mean mercury concentrations was highest in fish, and sequentially decreased in nonfish seafood, eggs, meats, soybean products, vegetables, cereals, dairy products and fruit. All the mean mercury concentrations of foods were below the standard limits of Department of Health in Taiwan, FAO/WHO and European Commission. The dietary mercury intakes for vegetarian, general population lived in the city, fishing village, outlying islands and fishing workers were 0.16, 0.89, 1.22, 1.66 and 3.50 £gg/kg/week, respectively. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) among the five groups mentioned above. The highest mercury intake was found in the fishing workers. However, the mean mercury intakes for those five groups were still within the PTWI safe limit suggested by FAO/WHO, corresponding to 3 to 76% of PTWI. Fishes were the major source of mercury intake among nine kinds of foods for Taiwan population, corresponding to 42 to 77% of mean mercury intake. Mean concentrations of hair mercury of vegetarian, general population lived in the city, fishing village, outlying islands and fishing workers were 0.5¡Ó0.5¡B2.4¡Ó1.8¡B4.4¡Ó3.3¡B4.6¡Ó7.4 and 9.1¡Ó13.6 mg/kg respectively. Significant differences were found among the five groups (p < 0.05). The highest mercury concentration of hair was also found in the fishing workers corresponding to the result of diet intake. 2.3% of Taiwan population with hair mercury higher than the toxic level, 20 mg/kg, proposed by FAO/WHO. They were all fishing workers and outlying islanders. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the concentrations of hair mercury were significantly correlated with the frequency of fish consumption for the population lived in the city, fishing village, and fishing workers. The mercury concentrations of hair was also related with the age of people and the fish species. Aspects of nutrient balance and the health risk, consumption of small and medium-sized fish with mercury lower than 50 ng/g was recommended. No more than 150 g per week was acceptable for the people like to eat large-sized predatory fishes.

Background During pregnancy, a healthy diet is beneficial for the expecting mother and her fetus. Midwives in antenatal care have an ideal position for promoting a healthy diet and thereby help women to not only lower the risks of pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes, but improve maternal health. The overall aim of this thesis was to describe diet and dietary changes during pregnancy from the women’s and the midwives’ perspectives with a focus on dietary counseling. The thesis comprises four studies. The specific aims in the respective studies were to: I) Describe pregnant women’s attitudes to and experiences of dietary information and advice, as well as dietary management during pregnancy. II) Explore midwives’ strategies in challenging dietary counseling situations. III) Describe how midwives’ perceive their role and their significance in dietary counseling of pregnant women.  IV) Describe women’s food habits during pregnancy and up to six months postpartum. Methods Studies I-III were qualitative. Study I included focus group interviews with 23 pregnant women. Study II included telephone interviews with 17 experienced midwives working in Swedish antenatal health care. Study III included the same 17 interviews from study II and supplemented them with four face-to-face-interviews. Qualitative content analysis was performed in all three studies. Study IV was a longitudinal study including a quantitative analysis of a questionnaire, which was given to women at five occasions during and after pregnancy. It concerned their food habits and it was answered by 163 women. The quantitative data was analyzed using comparative and descriptive statistics. Results The overall findings of the thesis were summarized as the main theme “Pregnant women and midwives are not in tune with each other about dietary counseling”. The main theme included the two themes ‘Pregnant women are concerned about risks for their child but fail to change to healthier dietary habits over time’, and ‘Midwives view themselves as authorities, though questioned ones’. In subthemes it was highlighted that pregnant women are well informed and interested in risk reduction for their child’s best and that they try to do their best to improve their diet during pregnancy. However, their diet did not reach levels of healthy eating recommendations and became even unhealthier after pregnancy. It was also highlighted that midwives experienced insufficient knowledge in dietary issues and related risks and that they had difficulties to give dietary support to pregnant women. Midwives were found to mainly focus on giving information and they lacked sufficient competence for challenging counseling. Conclusion Pregnant women, on the one hand, experience a lack of support from the midwives when dealing with dietary changes. The midwives, on the other hand, feel exposed and express a need for both further education in dietary issues and training in counseling. Women’s food habits during, but in particular after pregnancy need improvement, and dietary counseling could be more focused on healthy eating in a long-term perspective. / <p>Felaktigt ISSN angivet i avhandlingen och på spikbladet.</p>

This study characterizes B vitamin supplement use prior to and during pregnancy, changes in dietary one-carbon nutrient intakes (folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, choline, betaine and methionine) and most significant dietary sources. In Canadian women (Toronto, Ontario) supplemental (n=364) and dietary intakes (using a food frequency questionnaire) (n=290) were assessed during early and late pregnancy. Majority reported using a B vitamin-containing supplement prior (60%) to and during early (93%) and late (89%) pregnancy. Median supplemental intakes of folic acid, B12 and B6 were 1000 µg/d, 2.6 µg/d and 1.9 mg/d, respectively. Dietary one-carbon nutrient intakes did not change appreciably between early and late pregnancy. Most significant sources of folate and B6 were fruits and vegetables, of folic acid were cereals and grains and of B12 were dairy and egg products. Overall, this study provides novel information about one-carbon nutrient intakes in pregnancy which are crucial in maternal and child health.

This study characterizes B vitamin supplement use prior to and during pregnancy, changes in dietary one-carbon nutrient intakes (folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, choline, betaine and methionine) and most significant dietary sources. In Canadian women (Toronto, Ontario) supplemental (n=364) and dietary intakes (using a food frequency questionnaire) (n=290) were assessed during early and late pregnancy. Majority reported using a B vitamin-containing supplement prior (60%) to and during early (93%) and late (89%) pregnancy. Median supplemental intakes of folic acid, B12 and B6 were 1000 µg/d, 2.6 µg/d and 1.9 mg/d, respectively. Dietary one-carbon nutrient intakes did not change appreciably between early and late pregnancy. Most significant sources of folate and B6 were fruits and vegetables, of folic acid were cereals and grains and of B12 were dairy and egg products. Overall, this study provides novel information about one-carbon nutrient intakes in pregnancy which are crucial in maternal and child health.

Athletes appear healthy according to weight for height and body fat standards. Though athletes appear to be healthy, little is known about their diets. Research states there is a connection between athletic performance and nutrition. The objective of this study was to determine the diet quality of 138 collegiate athletes. Data were collected in a laboratory. Demographics were collected via survey. Anthropometrics were assessed using a free standing stadiometer and the BodPod® for body fat assessment. Block 2005 Food Frequency Questionnaire© was used to assess diets. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2005 was used to calculate diet quality scores. The average BMI was 23.2 (2.3) kg/m2 and the average body fat was17.8 % (6.5). The average HEI score was 51.2 (8.8). Higher HEI scores were correlated with higher body fat percentage in this sample. Diets were adequate in: calcium, iron, and vitamin C. Diets were inadequate in: fiber, fruits and vegetables intakes. The athletes had excessive intakes of sodium and total percent fats. These findings demonstrate the need for nutrition education for collegiate athletes.