Background: Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are dietary surveys widely used in studies of nutritional epidemiology because they are inexpensive, easy to complete and provide significant information on dietary intake over a long period of time. FFQs should be written specifically for each study group since diet may be influenced by ethnicity, culture, economic status and environmental factors. The aim of the authors on this work was to design and validate a food frequency questionnaire for the Peruvian Amazon population. Methods: Three hundred three individuals were selected and completed three 24-h recalls (R24). Two FFQs were conducted on two different occasions (FFQ.1 and FFQ.2). The validity of the FFQ was evaluated by comparing the relationship between the average daily nutrient intake estimated by the FFQs and that obtained by the three R24. The reproducibility was measured by comparing the mean nutrient intake of the two FFQs carried out. The correlations were assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the Lin correlation coefficient (CCC) and the Bland–Altman plot. Results: The results obtained to establish the validity showed a high correlation, with an average Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.70, a CCI of 0.65 and a CCC of 0.60. Approximately 60% of the nutrients had a CCC above 0.60. In terms of reproducibility, better results were obtained, with an average Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.67, 0.64 for CCI and 0.58 for CCC. Conclusions: The correlation coefficients show good validity and reproducibility, and therefore, the FFQ we have developed may be considered a useful and valid tool to estimate the dietary intake of the Peruvian Amazon population.

Background: The traditional therapeutic approach has perceived the role of nutrition as a minor intervention in psychiatry. The microbiota–gut–brain axis theory evidences the influence of dietary and nutritional patterns on mental health. Aims: To evidence the impact of dietary advice on increasing symbiotic intake on nutritional status and dietary habits in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Methods: Randomised clinical trial (two-arm, double-blind, balanced-block, six-month intervention) in 50 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The control group received conventional dietary advice on an individual basis. A personal nutritional education programme was established in the intervention group (IG) to increase prebiotic and probiotic intake through dietary advice (dairy and fermented foods, green leafy vegetables, high-fibre fruit, whole grains, etc.). Data on nutritional status and dietary habits were collected (baseline and six months). The degree of dietary adherence to the recommended patterns was recorded weekly. Anthropometric parameters were also analysed monthly. Results: Finally, 44 subjects completed the follow-up. All participants exceeded the dietary reference intakes. The overall and intra-group analysis showed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in macro and micronutrient intakes with a closer approximation to the recommended dietary intakes, except for polyunsaturated fatty acids, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and dietary fibre. After six months of intervention, statistical differences (p < 0.001) were found in all variables of the anthropometric profile in the IG, as well as an increase in the consumption of foods with a high symbiotic content (at baseline and six months). Likewise, a reduction in eggs, meat, fish, sugars and ultra-processed foods was evident, leading to significant intra-group differences (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Implementing conventional nutritional education strategies and specific nutritional advice with a symbiotic effect improves the dietary-nutritional profile in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Furthermore, it highlights the nutritional impact on mental health, stating itself as adjuvant therapy for physical health and lifestyle improvement.

Objetivo: El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido la elaboración de una base de datos de composición de alimentos (BDCA) específica para la Amazonía Peruana con la que valorar el consumo dietético de la población.Metodología: Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio observacional de encuestación en el que se seleccionaron 303 individuos de 3 a 83 años de edad. Para la elaboración de una lista de alimentos básicos. Se recogieron recordatorios de 24 horas (R24) y cuestionarios de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos (CFCA) en un período de 4 años, que se complementaron con información de la Encuesta Nacional de Presupuestos Familiares. La elaboración de la BDCA se realizó en base a las directrices descritas por Greenfiel y Southgate y a las propuestas por INFOODS.Resultados: Se elaboró una base de datos de composición de alimentos (BDCA) por método indirecto con 135 alimentos que proporcionaban información sobre el contenido en energía, macronutrientes, sodio, potasio, fósforo, calcio, hierro, tiamina, rivoflavina, ácido fólico, B12, B6, C, A y D. Las fuentes de información utilizadas han sido las tablas de composición de alimentos peruanos, las de Centroamérica, las de McCance and Widdowson y las del USDA, entre otras.Discusión: El desarrollo de la base de datos era imprescindible para la valoración del patrón dietético de esta comunidad, ya que las tablas de composición de alimentos peruanos no proporcionan una información completa sobre la composición nutricional de los alimentos que son más consumidos en la Amazonía.