From the Guidelines
Dietary intake assessment should be conducted using a combination of methods, including 24-hour recalls, food frequency questionnaires, and food diaries, with a minimum of 2-3 days of data collection, including one weekend day, to accurately evaluate a person's nutritional status. This approach is supported by the most recent and highest quality study, which recommends using multiple methods to assess dietary intake 1. The use of a 10-point analog visual scale for food intake, as proposed in the 2021 ESPEN guideline on hospital nutrition, is a semi-quantitative method that can be used to assess food intake and identify patients at risk of malnutrition 1.
When conducting a dietary intake assessment, it is essential to consider the clinical context and patient capabilities, and to select the most appropriate method or combination of methods. The assessment should include information on overall caloric intake, macronutrient distribution, micronutrient adequacy, eating patterns, and potential food-drug interactions. This comprehensive approach provides valuable insights into a person's nutritional status and can help identify nutritional deficiencies, excessive intake, and guide personalized dietary interventions for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and weight management.
Some key points to consider when conducting a dietary intake assessment include:
- Using a combination of methods to assess dietary intake, including 24-hour recalls, food frequency questionnaires, and food diaries
- Collecting at least 2-3 days of data, including one weekend day, to account for day-to-day variations in eating habits
- Considering the clinical context and patient capabilities when selecting the most appropriate method or combination of methods
- Including information on overall caloric intake, macronutrient distribution, micronutrient adequacy, eating patterns, and potential food-drug interactions in the assessment
- Using semi-quantitative methods, such as the 10-point analog visual scale for food intake, to assess food intake and identify patients at risk of malnutrition, as recommended by the 2021 ESPEN guideline on hospital nutrition 1.
The EASL clinical practice guidelines on nutrition in chronic liver disease also recommend a detailed assessment of dietary intake, including information on food, fluids, supplements, number of meals and their timing, as well as calories and quality and quantity of protein intake 1. The guidelines also suggest using the symptoms section of the abridged scored patient-generated subjective global assessment (abPG-SGA) to construct questions for the dietary intake assessment.
In terms of the methods used to assess dietary intake, the 2000 clinical practice guidelines for nutrition in chronic renal failure recommend using dietary recalls, food frequency questionnaires, and food diaries, and suggest that the best method is a 3-day food diary, but acknowledge that this may be difficult to implement in patients with advanced disease 1. The guidelines also recommend using a 24-hour recall technique, which requires short-term recall and is less burdensome than food records.
Overall, the most recent and highest quality study recommends using a combination of methods to assess dietary intake, including 24-hour recalls, food frequency questionnaires, and food diaries, with a minimum of 2-3 days of data collection, including one weekend day, to accurately evaluate a person's nutritional status 1.
From the Research
Dietary Intake Assessment
Dietary intake assessment is crucial in understanding the relationship between diet and disease prevention. The following points highlight the importance of dietary intake assessment:
- A comprehensive nutritional assessment involves examining the patient's physical and psychological state, as well as considering any social issues that may affect their nutrition 2.
- Dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, have been shown to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health and type 2 diabetes management 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The Mediterranean diet has been associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and improved glycemic control in people with established diabetes 3, 4, 6.
- Other dietary patterns, such as the dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet, vegetarian diet, and low-glycemic-index diet, may also reduce cardiovascular disease risk in people with diabetes 5.
Key Components of Dietary Intake Assessment
The following components are essential in dietary intake assessment:
- Physical examination of the patient's nutritional status 2.
- Psychological assessment to identify any eating disorders or other factors that may affect nutrition 2.
- Social assessment to consider any factors that may impact the patient's access to healthy food options 2.
- Evaluation of the patient's dietary patterns and habits to identify areas for improvement 3, 4, 5, 6.
Benefits of Dietary Intake Assessment
The benefits of dietary intake assessment include: