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Sensitivity and specificity of self-reported use of dietary supplements

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 1669–1671 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)—used in a cohort of 48 000 men to determine dietary supplement use.

Design: Questionnaire data regarding use of dietary supplements were compared with 14 24-h recall interviews spread over a year.

Setting and subjects: A random sample of 248 middle-aged and elderly Swedish men was included in the analysis.

Results and conclusions: Use of any supplement in at least one interview was reported by 51% (in three or more interviews by 38%). Sensitivity and specificity of the FFQ regarding any supplement use was 78 and 93%, respectively. Sensitivity for multivitamins, vitamins C and E was 69, 67 and 78%, respectively. The sensitivity increased to 93% and the specificity decreased to 88% when a user was defined as a person reporting use in at least three interviews.

Conclusions: Dietary supplement use might be measured by a self-administered questionnaire relatively well especially when supplements are used more regularly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Epidemiology, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden

    M Messerer & A Wolk

Authors
  1. M Messerer
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  2. A Wolk
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Contributions

Guarantor: A Wolk.

Contributors: Idea, hypothesis and design of the study by MM and AW. AW planned the project. AW and MM carried out the project. MM and AW analysed the data and compiled the results. MM wrote the manuscript and answered all queries.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Messerer.

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Messerer, M., Wolk, A. Sensitivity and specificity of self-reported use of dietary supplements. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 1669–1671 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602021

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602021

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