Dietary diversity score as an indicator of nutritional adequacy of diets among 16-19 year-old adolescents

ABSTRACT

Objective. This study was conducted to determine the dietary diversity score and its relation to nutritional adequacy among 16-19 year-old adolescents. Methods. Secondary data analyses were undertaken with a representative sample of 16-19 year-old adolescents (n=521) in a university campus in Manila in 2008. Dietary diversity scores (DDS) were calculated. Nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) is the ratio of subject's nutrient intake to the 2002 Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENI) for Filipinos. The mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was calculated as the sum of NARs for all evaluated nutrients divided by the number of nutrients evaluated, expressed as a ratio (range from 0-1). MAR was used as a measure of adequacy of overall diet. Pearson correlation coefficients between DDS and MAR were calculated and also evaluated for sensitivity and specificity, with MAR taken as the ideal standard of adequate intake. Results. The adolescents had a mean DDS of 3.94 (1.21) and a mean MAR of 0.67 (0.18). There was a strong correlation between MAR and DDS (r=0.543; P < 0.0001). A DDS of 4 was shown to be the best indicators for both MAR equivalent to 0.5 and 0.7 since they provided the best sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion. DDS can be used as a simple and quick indicator of the nutritional adequacy of the diets among these group of adolescents. Further investigation of this tool is needed for other population groups i.e., adults and elderly.