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Misreporting of dietary energy, protein, potassium and sodium in relation to body mass index in young Japanese women

Abstract

Objective:

Although under-reporting of dietary intake is more common in persons with a high body mass index (BMI), it is not well known whether or not misreporting is selective for different foods (and hence energy and nutrients), particularly in non-Western populations. We examined misreporting of dietary intake against biomarkers and its relation with BMI in young Japanese women.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Subjects:

A total of 353 female Japanese dietetic students aged 18–22 years (mean BMI: 21.4 kg/m2, mean fat intake: 29.8% of energy).

Methods:

Misreporting of dietary energy, protein, potassium and sodium (assessed by a self-administered diet history questionnaire) was examined against respective biomarkers (estimated energy expenditure and 24-h urinary excretion). Reporting accuracy was calculated as the ratio of reported intake to that estimated from corresponding biomarkers (complete accuracy: 1.00).

Results:

Mean reporting accuracy of absolute intake (amount per day) varied considerably (0.86–1.14). Reporting accuracy of absolute intake decreased with increasing BMI (P for trend <0.001). However, no association was observed between reporting accuracy of energy-adjusted values and BMI (P for trend >0.15), indicating that BMI-dependent misreporting was canceled by energy adjustment. This was owing to positive correlation between the reporting accuracy of energy intake and that of absolute intake of the three nutrients (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.49–0.67, P<0.0001).

Conclusions:

Although differential misreporting of absolute intake was associated with BMI, differential misreporting of energy-adjusted value was not. These findings support the use of energy-adjusted values in the investigation of diet–disease relationships among lean populations with a low-fat intake.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Yuko Hisatomi, Junko Soezima and Kazumi Takedomi (Nishikyushu University), Yoko Umeki (Fukuoka Women's University), Yoko Ichikawa (University of Shizuoka), Tomoko Ide (Tokyo Kasei University), Maiko Suzuki (Mie Chukyo University Junior College), Etsuko Uneoka (Otemae College of Nutrition), Kanako Muramatsu (Niigata Women's College) and Mika Furuki (Minamikyushu University) for data collection.

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Correspondence to S Sasaki.

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Guarantor: S Sasaki.

Contributors: KM contributed to the concept and design of the study, the study protocol, data collection and management; and coordinated the field work, formulated the hypothesis, analyzed and interpreted the data, and wrote the manuscript. SS was responsible for the concept and design of the study, the study protocol, data collection and management; and interpreted the results and contributed to the writing and editing of the manuscript. YT contributed to the writing and editing of the manuscript. KU contributed to the concept and design of the study, the study protocol, and data collection. MY, HH, TG, JO, KB, KO, TK, RW, and YS contributed to data collection. All authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript.

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Murakami, K., Sasaki, S., Takahashi, Y. et al. Misreporting of dietary energy, protein, potassium and sodium in relation to body mass index in young Japanese women. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 111–118 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602683

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