Nutritional Epidemiology

Learning objectives

Upon successful completion of the course the post-graduate students are expected to be able to:

  • state and describe the basic principles of collecting and analysing dietary data
  • design dietary questionnaires considering variation of dietary data
  • examine the relative validity of dietary questionnaires using biomarkers of dietary intake
  • apply methods to correct dietary intake considering energy intake (energy adjustment)
  • Identify and measure errors arising during the estimation of usual dietary intake (under-reporters)
  • analyse dietary data in relation to health-related data
  • interpret findings deriving from nutritional epidemiology studies
  • evaluate the methodological rigor of nutritional epidemiology studies

Course content

The course introduces students to the concept, principles, and applications of nutritional epidemiological research. The following topics are covered:

  • Introduction to nutritional epidemiology
  • Dietary intake assessment at the individual level (questionnaires and biomarkers)
  • Analysis of dietary data at the food or nutrient level
  • Analysis of dietary data at the level of dietary patterns (scales of dietary intake- Mediterranean diet scale)
  • Sources of variability/variation in the diet
  • Testing the performance of methods used for collecting dietary data
    • Design of a study to assess the relative validity of a dietary questionnaire
    • Data analysis of the validity study
  • Special issues arising during nutritional epidemiology data analysis
    • Methods of estimating dietary intake after energy adjustment
    • Excluding under-reporters.
  • Special issues arising during nutritional epidemiology data analysis (practical exercise)
  • Discussion of a published study on nutritional epidemiology
  • Nutritional epidemiological studies in Greece (group presentations)
  • Special applications of nutritional epidemiology studies
    • Evaluation of dietary preferences through risk-benefit assessment methods (Risk-Benefit Assessment)
    • From the epidemiological findings to the formulation and implementation of a nutrition policy

The teaching methods include lectures, practical exercises, and the preparation of a group assignment and presentation.