Validation and application of antioxidant food frequency questionnaire in overweight postmenopausal women

The antioxidant food frequency questionnaire (AOX‐FFQ) validated recently in healthy young adults has not been documented the applicability in high‐risk population of CVD. Dietary total antioxidant capacity (d‐TAC) has been reported to be inversely associated with CVD risks. This study aimed to validate the newly developed AOX‐FFQ in estimating d‐TAC and other antioxidant intake and its applicability in overweight postmenopausal women in estimating plasma antioxidant status and d‐TAC role in predicting CVD risk. AOX‐FFQ, seven day diet recalls (DR‐7d), and 12‐h fasting blood samples were collected in 40 overweight postmenopausal women, aged 41–69 and BMI of 26–39. d‐TAC assessed by DR‐7d and AOX‐FFQ were highly correlated (r=0.69, P < 0.001). Daily antioxidant intakes estimated by AOX‐FFQ accounted for 89%–160% of those from DR‐7d and the correlation coefficients ranged from 0.32 to 0.72 (P < 0.05). Dietary intake correlated with plasma concentrations for vitamin C, beta‐carotene, alpha‐carotene and beta‐cryptoxanthin (P < 0.05). d‐TAC estimated from AOX‐FFQ was positively associated with plasma TAC and phenolics concentrations; negatively with superoxide dismutase activity and odds ratio for CRP > 3 mg/L (P < 0.05). These findings suggested that AOX‐FFQ can be used in this population for estimating intake of antioxidants and d‐TAC. Grant Funding Source : Donaghue Nutrition Research Program