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Estimation of Daily Human Intake of Food Flavonoids

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Abstract

The daily intake of food flavonoids was determined using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a four day non consecutive food diary (4DFR) in a group of 45 female Flemish dietitians. The subjects were asked to report their food intake three times: day 1 using the FFQ (FFQ1); between day 2 and 13 using a four day non consecutive food diary (4DFR); and again the FFQ on day 14 (FFQ2). The total flavonoid intake in mg/day as estimated with the different methods were respectively (mean and SD) for FFQ1 166.0 ± 146.6 mg/day; for 4DFR 203.0 ± 243.2 mg/day; and for FFQ2 158.3 ± 151.8 mg/day. There was a significant different estimate for the amount of flavan-3-ols, flavanones and flavones when comparing the two FFQs with the 4DFR. The two research methods classified 88% of the 45 dietitians in the same or in an adjacent quartile for total flavonoid intake. The findings of this study indicate that the developed FFQ seems to be a simple and reliable method to assign subjects in quartiles of flavonoid intake.

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Abbreviations

FFQ1:

first semiquantitative food frequency

FFQ2:

second semiquantitative food frequency

4DFR:

four day non consecutive food diary

FFQ:

semiquantitative food frequency

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participating dietitians for their cooperation in this study. We would also like to thank Martine Mullie-Devos for her practical assistance.

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Correspondence to P. Mullie.

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Mullie, P., Clarys, P., Deriemaeker, P. et al. Estimation of Daily Human Intake of Food Flavonoids. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 62, 93–98 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-007-0047-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-007-0047-7

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