The use of the South African Food Composition Database System (SAFOODS) and its products in assessing dietary intake data. Part II

Abstract

Different dietary research methodologies are available for the collection of quantitative dietary intake data. The methods most often used in South Africa are the 24-hour dietary recall, the quantified food frequency questionnaire and the dietary record. Information is required on the energy and nutrient composition of foods commonly consumed in South Africa in order to analyse dietary intake data quantitatively. The South African Food Composition Database System (SAFOODS) and its products, e.g. the printed tables and the software program FoodFinder3 provide the researcher with the tools to convert food intake data into energy and nutrients. Coding for the type and amount of food consumed is required before the data can be electronically analysed. The Quantities Manual of the Medical Research Council provides the necessary information for the conversion of food intake data recorded in household measures into grams of food. To ensure that the quality of the dataset is high, several steps have to be undertaken before statistical analysis and reporting of the data can take place. FoodFinder3, can be used for the nutrient analysis of the data and the program also enables the user to export the data to MS Excel for further analysis and for importing the data into statistical packages. Appropriate statistical methods are required for the analysis of the data as nutrient intake data are often skewed. A standardised protocol, validated questionnaires and using the South African Food Composition Database for the analysis of the data would enable the pooling of data collected nationally. This could compensate for the absence of regular national surveys.