VALIDATION OF DIETARY HISTORY METHOD IN A GROUP OF ELDERLY WOMEN USING MEASUREMENTS OF TOTAL-ENERGY EXPENDITURE

The objective of the present study was to validate energy intake data, obtained by dietary history, in twelve elderly women aged 69-82 years . Energy and protein intakes were obtained using the dietary history m ethod with a reference period of 30 d. Reported energy intake was comp ared with total energy expenditure (TEE) measured on two consecutive d ays in a respiration chamber. Reported protein intake was compared wit h mean N excretion from four 24 h urine collections. Mean reported ene rgy intake was 7.2 (so 1.5) MJ/d which was lower than TEE (P = 0.059). Reported protein intake was 64 (so 13) g/d and lower than estimated p rotein intake (P = 0.053). The percentage underestimation was not rela ted to body weight or percentage body fat. Subjects with a relatively high TEE or a relatively high estimated protein intake underestimated their energy intake to a greater extent. The discrepancy between repor ted energy intake and TEE was positively associated with the discrepan cy between reported and estimated protein intakes. The results of this present study show an underestimation of energy intake of about 12 % when using the dietary history method. Physical activity diaries compl eted in the chamber and during 4 d at home, as well as pedometer count s, indicated a higher level of physical activity in the free-living si tuation compared with the chamber situation. This suggests that the ac tual underestimation of energy intake may be even higher in this group of elderly women. These results have implications for the use of the dietary history method in, for example, epidemiological studies carrie d out in elderly subjects.