Choosing of method for studying food consumption depending on the purpose of the clinical research (literature review)

Abstract

Dietary assessment methods provide information about the quantity and quality of foods and dishes that make up the diet of individual. As a rule, this kind of information is collected during epidemiological studies. However, taking into account the role of nutrition in the development and progression of internal diseases, the importance of dietary modification for their treatment and prevention, analysis of the diet and structure of the nutrition may be an important additional tool in the clinical practice, which is able to increase the effectiveness of therapy and improve the prognosis of patients. In addition, information about the patient’s actual nutrition can be used to assess the risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases, to determine the scope of examination and identify the causes of symptoms, and guide management to determine the frequency of observation. Thus, dietary assessment methods, the different frequency of their use and distinct combinations, make it possible to obtain various types of information about the structure of nutrition and eating habits of an individual or group of individuals in a certain area at a certain point of time in the past or present. The inclusion of methods for assessing actual food intake in the protocols of clinical trials is an important measure, and this article discusses the main types of questionnaires, which are both of scientific interest and of practical importance, conditions and limitations of their use and their possible combinations to optimize the information obtained.