In 2009, we published a journal article detailing the production and validation of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). This FFQ was a component of my PhD. The aim was to develop a FFQ able to provide analysis of FODMAP intake, amongst other nutritional factors, so that we could use it in our research and avoid the need to have our patients complete lengthy food diaries for long periods of time.
The FFQ was validated and due to the broad range of nutritional factors that it was able to assess, we named it the Comprehensive Nutrition Assessment Questionnaire (CNAQ). The FFQ can adequately assess intake of the following:
| Macronutrients | Vitamins | Sugars & fermentable carbohydrates | Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Vitamin A | Total sugars | Calcium |
| Carbohydrate | Thaiamin | Glucose | Iron |
| Protein | Vitamin C | Fructose | Magnesium |
| Fat | Folate | Excess fructose | Phosphorus |
| Saturated fat | Niacin | Sucrose | Potassium |
| Polyunsaturated fat | Riboflavin | Lactose | Sodium |
| Monounsaturated fat | b carotene equivalents | Total oligosaccharides | Zinc |
| Cholesterol | Fructans | ||
| Alcohol | Total GOS | ||
| Starch | Raffinose | ||
| Dietary fibre | Stachyose | ||
| Resistant starch | Sorbitol | ||
| Glycaemic index | Mannitol | ||
| Glycaemic load |
This extensive list makes the CNAQ useful to a wide range of researchers and health professionals including those involved in gastroenterology, endocrinology, cardiac, renal and nutritional medicine.
Due to the broad appeal of the CNAQ, we then arranged for the CNAQ to be produced into an online tool, so that it could be easily accessed by researchers and other interested parties around the world. Organisations are provided with an account, participant email addresses are uploaded into the secure site, and participants are then sent a personal login to complete the online CNAQ. Completed responses can then be viewed by the organisation and the nutrient analysis can be automatically exported into excel.
This is a fantastic tool, particularly in the research setting. There is an extraordinary time saving by utilising this online tool compared with manual entry of daily food diaries.
For more information please see the original validation paper http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002822310011909.
You can also read more about the online CNAQ or download an order form here www.cnaq.com.au.
