Validation of the fermented food frequency questionnaire to assess consumption across four European regions: a study within the promoting innovation of fermented foods cost action
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Fermented foods are an integral part of diets worldwide, and emerging epidemiological data suggest their significant beneficial health effects. However, assessing their intake is challenging since many of these foods are sporadically and/or locally consumed, hence current traditional nutritional assessment tools lack the specificity to capture this variability. To address this gap, the Fermented Food Frequency Questionnaire (3FQ) was developed and this study aimed to evaluate its relative validity and repeatability across European regions. Methods: = 2,315). Validity was evaluated using 24-h dietary recalls (24 h). Statistical analyses included Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and Intra-Class Correlation coefficients (ICC) for repeatability, and Bland-Altman plots for validity. Results: Results showed high repeatability, overall and by region, for estimated quantities and frequencies of consumption for most of the fermented food groups (from 0.4 to 1.0), with a few exceptions for infrequently consumed items (e.g., fermented fish). Validity assessment via Bland-Altman plots revealed excellent agreement between the 3FQ and 24 h for most of the food groups, with over 90% of values falling within the agreement interval. Notably, fermented dairy products, coffee, and bread categories showed the strongest agreement (>95%). Conclusion: The 3FQ is a robust and reliable tool for estimating the consumption of diverse fermented food groups across four European regions and provides valid estimates of the frequency and quantity of intake for specific fermented foods. The 3FQ could be a valuable instrument for epidemiological research aiming to elucidate associations between certain fermented foods and health parameters in European diets.
Source: Frontiers in Nutrition
Authors: Emmanuella Magriplis, Theodoros Smiliotopoulos, Niki Myrintzou, Kathryn Jane Burton-Pimentel, Signe Adamberg, Kaarel Adamberg, Duygu Agagündüz, Natalijam Atanasova-Pancevska, Meline Beglaryan, Elske M. Brouwer Brolsma, Johana Burtscher, Marija Cerjak, Zuzana Ciesarová, Inga Ciprovica, Francesca De Filippis, Mónica Gandía, Elaine Hillesheim, Luziana Hoxha, Daniel Borch Ibsen, Nastia Ivanova, Håvard Jenssen, Petra Jones, Anastasia Kalea, Zeynep Begum Kalyoncu Atasoy, Vaida Kitryte-Syrpa, Aleksandar Kostic, Marta Laranjo, Victoria Meslier, Nóra Emilia Nagybákay, Gjore Nakov, Malviina Nikola, Christos Pafilas, Photis Papademas, Foteini Pavli, Tagli Pitsi, Terhi Pohjanheimo, Igor Pravst, Jelena Rajic, Pasquale Russo, Taner Sar, Małgorzata Starowicz, Irzada Taljic, Biljana Trajkovska, Guy Vergères, Bojana Vidovic, Christophe Chassard, Michail Syrpas
Institutions: Agricultural University of Athens, Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, Agroscope, Federal Office for Agriculture, Tallinn University of Technology, Gazi University, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Center for Ecological Noosphere Studies, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Wageningen University & Research, BOKU University, University of Zagreb, Food Research Institute, National Agricultural and Food Centre, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Universitat de València, Agricultural University of Tirana, University of Tirana, Aarhus University, Technical University of Sofia, Roskilde University, University of Oslo, University of Malta, University College London, Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Kaunas University of Technology, University of Belgrade, University of Évora, Université Paris-Saclay, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, MetaGenoPolis, Cyprus University of Technology, National Institute for Health Development, University of Ljubljana, University of Milan, University of Borås, InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Sarajevo, University "St. Kliment Ohridski" - Bitola, Unité Mixte de Recherche sur les Fromages
Language: English
Topic: Nutritional Studies and Diet
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4415672091