Development of a repertoire and a food frequency questionnaire for estimating dietary fiber intake considering prebiotics: input from the FiberTAG project

Abstract BackgroundTo develop a dedicated database and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) allowing detailed dietary fiber (DF) intake estimation including prebiotic (oligo)saccharides.MethodsA repertoire of DF detailing total, soluble DF, insoluble DF and prebiotic (oligo)saccharides (inulin-type fructans, fructo-oligosaccharides and galacto-oligosaccharides) in food products consumed in Europe has been established on basis of the German and Canadian databases and published data. A 12-month FFQ was developed and submitted to 15 healthy volunteers (mean age: 21 yrs; mean BMI: 22 kg/m2) from the FiberTAG study (https://www.fibertag.eu/).ResultsThe FiberTAG repertoire details DF and prebiotic (oligo)saccharides in 283 food items allocated into 4 categories and 15 subcategories. The FiberTAG FFQ consists in 302 items regrouped in 4 high DF-containing food groups (vegetables including legumes, fruits including nuts and seed, cereal products and others), proposes intake frequency scales, photographs for portion size evaluation and considers the seasonal occurrence for vegetables or fruits. Our data in the tested population report a total DF intake of 38 g/d (1/3 of soluble and 2/3 of insoluble DF). Fructan and fructo-oligosaccharides intake, linked notably to condiments (garlic and onions) ingestion, reached 5 and 2 g/d, respectively, galacto-oligosaccharides intake level being lower (1 g/d).ConclusionsThe FiberTAG repertoire and FFQ are major tools for the evaluation of the total amount of DF including prebiotics. Their use can be helpful in intervention or observational studies devoted to analyze microbiota-nutrient interactions in different pathological contexts, as well as to revisit DF intake recommendations as part of healthy lifestyles considering specific DF.Trial registrationNCT03494491(clinicaltrials.gov)