Evidence mapPaperPMID 42394860Full record

ArticleJournal of nutritional science2026

Development and validation of a food frequency questionnaire for national nutrition surveillance among Malaysian adolescents and adults.

Kimberly Yuin Y'ng Wong, Ahmad Ali Zainuddin, Ruhaya Salleh, Lalitha Palaniveloo, Azli Baharudin, Noor Ul-Aziha Muhammad, Khairul Hasnan Amali, Sulhariza Husni Zain, Wai Kent Lai

Abstract readValidation Study
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Article in Journal of nutritional science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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2 · The registry

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kimberly Yuin Y'ng WongCentre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4745-8735
Ahmad Ali ZainuddinCentre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4016-6809
Ruhaya SallehCentre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, Malaysia.
Lalitha PalanivelooCentre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, Malaysia.
Azli BaharudinCentre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, Malaysia.
Noor Ul-Aziha MuhammadCentre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, Malaysia.
Khairul Hasnan AmaliCentre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, Malaysia.
Sulhariza Husni ZainCentre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4155-8089
Wai Kent LaiCentre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, Malaysia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Food habits vary across ethnic groups and geographical regions. However, validated dietary assessment tools accounting for such diversity remain limited. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed and validated to assess the habitual food intake of adolescents and adults across Malaysia. The 147-item FFQ was constructed using commonly consumed foods from five main ethnicities (Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Sabah and Sarawak indigenous groups) identified from national surveys. A cross-sectional validation study was conducted among purposively sampled healthy individuals aged 10-59 years from 16 administrative regions. Trained community nutritionists administered the FFQ to assess monthly intake, alongside a three-day dietary record and recall (3DRR) covering two weekdays and one weekend. Spearman's correlation, Bland-Altman plots, and quartile cross-classification evaluated the agreement between the FFQ and 3DRR for energy, macronutrients, and selected micronutrients (Vitamin C, thiamine, calcium, and iron). Respondents (n = 361; 50.3% adults, 49.7% adolescents) were 50.4% female and represented five main ethnicities (range: 15.8-25.2%), with 60.4% from Peninsular Malaysia. Energy intake estimated by the FFQ (median: 2285 kcal) was significantly higher than by the 3DRR (median: 1785 kcal; Wilcoxon p < 0.001). Spearman's correlation coefficients observed for energy (crude r = 0.31), and selected nutrients (energy-adjusted r range: 0.19-0.38), along with <10% of extreme quartile misclassification indicated acceptable ranking ability and agreement for most nutrients. Bland-Altman plots indicated no proportional bias for energy and macronutrients. In conclusion, the FFQ is a valid tool for assessing dietary intake within the multi-ethnic Malaysian population nationwide.

Indexed as

DietDiet SurveysFeeding BehaviorNutrition SurveysAdolescentAdultChildCross-Sectional StudiesDiet RecordsEnergy IntakeEthnicityFemaleHumansMalaysiaMaleMicronutrientsMicronutrientsDietary assessmentFood frequency questionnaireHabitual food intakeNutrition epidemiologyValidation

Identifiers

PMID42394860
PMCPMC13323619

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