Desenvolupament i validació d'eines per a l'avaluació del consum alimentari

Identifier:  TDX:4497

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX4497

Authors:  de las Heras Delgado, Sara

Abstract:
Assessment tools for dietary intake are crucial for epidemiological studies. In Spain, there is a lack of tools to evaluate dietary intake in children, with only three validated food frequency questionnaires, all of which have limitations. The food industry has responded to changes in demand with new products, especially beverages and plant-based alternatives, whose nutritional profile and degree of processing have been little studied. Tools like Nutri-Score and classification systems like NOVA evaluate the nutritional quality and processing of these products. The objective of this Thesis is to develop tools to evaluate dietary intake and analyze the nutritional profile (NP) and degree of processing of plant-based alternatives and beverages, using the original and updated Nutri-Score algorithm. In the COME-kids study, a food and beverage frequency questionnaire (F&B-FQ) for children aged 3-11 years was validated, demonstrating effectiveness and validity in classifying nutrient intakes and food groups compared to reference methods. The analysis of the NP and degree of processing of plant-based alternatives showed that they have a better NP than their animal counterparts, although cheese, fish, and meat alternatives are more processed and have a poorer nutritional profile. The analysis of the NP of beverages showed that the updated Nutri-Score algorithm better discriminates between milkshakes, sweetened beverages, and plant-based beverages. Thanks to the penalization of sugar and sweeteners, it improves the classification of plant-based beverages, benefiting their protein content. In conclusion, this Thesis highlights the importance of validated tools to evaluate children's dietary intake and the need for specific food composition databases. These tools can influence food policies, dietary guidelines, and product reformulation towards healthier options.