Energy Adjustment in Nutritional Epidemiology 2019

Golaleh Asghari, PhD

2019

Definition

In epidemiologic studies, even the most carefully collected dietary data can produce misleading conclusions if the data are not carefully analyzed and interpreted.

One critical aspect of analysis is accounting appropriately for total energy intake.

Energy adjustment is an analytic method by which nutrient and food group intakes are evaluated in relation to total energy intake.

Primary reasons for energy adjustment

• Account for the fact that total energy requirements are related to:
  • body size
  • metabolic efficiency
  • physical activity
• As these factors contribute to variation of nutrient intakes, associations between nutrients and diseases independent of them are weakened =è differences in the levels of these factors cause variation in energy intake