Development and Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Caffeine Intake Assessment in Iranian Adolescents
This study developed and validated a culturally appropriate Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to assess caffeine intake among Iranian adolescents, demonstrating moderate to good reliability and validity compared to thre
Adolescent caffeine consumption is increasingly common and may pose potential health risks. However, there is a lack of culturally appropriate tools to assess caffeine intake among Iranian adolescents. This study aimed to develop and validate a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) primarily designed to rank the intake of caffeine-containing beverages, with secondary assessment of broader dietary components in this population.
An existing validated 80-item FFQ was adapted with the addition of ten caffeine-related items identified through literature review and expert consultation. Eighty-three adolescents completed the modified FFQ, and sixty-five also completed a three-day dietary record (3DR) for validation purposes. The study sought to determine the reliability and validity of this new instrument within the specific cultural context of Iranian youth.
The FFQ demonstrated moderate to good reliability and validity, with stronger and more consistent results observed for caffeine intake. Spearman’s correlations ranged from 0.62 to 0.93, and intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.51 to 0.94. Cross-classification showed 70.8% agreement for caffeine intake categories, while Bland-Altman analysis indicated acceptable agreement between the FFQ and 3DR, particularly for caffeine, calcium, and vitamin D.
The validated FFQ may serve as a culturally relevant and practical tool for ranking caffeine intake in epidemiological studies among Iranian adolescents, while its use for broader dietary assessment should be interpreted with caution. Researchers utilizing this instrument must consider the specific limitations regarding non-caffeine nutrient assessments.
This research note is provided for laboratory research purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute medical advice or clinical recommendations. All data presented are derived from published scientific literature and are intended solely for academic and research applications.