Evaluation of the Smartphone-Based Dietary Assessment tool “Traqq” for Assessing Habitual Dietary Intake by Random 2-H Recalls in Adults: Comparison with a Food Frequency Questionnaire and Blood Concentration Biomarkers

Background: Current dietary assessment methods are affected by memory-related bias and heavily burden respondents. To reduce respondent burden and associated measurement error, we recently developed an innovative smartphone-based 2-h recall (2hR) method. Objectives: Evaluation of the use of random 2hRs, administered via the smartphone-based dietary assessment tool “Traqq”, for assessing habitual intake against a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and blood concentration markers. Methods: Dietary intake was assessed in 215 Dutch adults by repeated 2hRs on randomly selected days and times (i.e. equivalent to 3 full days of 2hRs) over a 4-wk period. At the end of the study period, participants completed a validated semiquantitative FFQ. Sixty-five random participants also provided 2 fasting blood samples, to assess plasma carotenoid and plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations. Results: Intake estimates of energy (2132 ± 665 kcal vs. 2017 ± 572 kcal) were slightly higher with 2hRs than FFQ, whereas the percentage energy intake from macronutrients where similar (i.e. protein: 37 ± 14 en% vs. 37 ± 13 en%; fat: 35 ± 6 en% vs. 44 ± 7 en%; carbohydrates: 44 ± 7 en% vs. 44 ± 6 en%). For food groups, a larger variation in intake estimates was found ranging from –65% (legumes) to 62% (pastry, cake and biscuits). Spearman correlations between 2hRs and FFQ ranged from 0.33 to 0.69 for energy and macronutrients, from 0.32 to 0.58 for micronutrients, and from 0.27 to 0.67 for food groups. For all nutrients and food groups, ≥70% of the participants were classified in the same/adjacent quartile. Spearman correlations between 2hRs and plasma carotenoids and n-3 PUFA ranged between 0.34 and 0.57 and cross-classification ranged between 61% and 83% in the same/adjacent quartile. Conclusions: Comparing 2hRs with FFQ and blood concentration markers showed good ranking ability for energy, most nutrients, and most frequently consumed foods. More variation was seen for episodically consumed foods and nutrients. Trial registration number: This trial was registered at the Dutch Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO) registry as ABR No. NL69065.081.19 (https://www.toetsingonline.nl/to/ccmo_search.nsf/fABRpop?readform&unids=26E81F6A56186B1EC12587BD001C7AC9).