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Article

Comparison of Nutrient Estimates Based on Food Volume versus Weight: Implications for Dietary Assessment Methods

by
Emma K. Partridge
1,
Marian L. Neuhouser
1,2,
Kara Breymeyer
2 and
Jeannette M. Schenk
2,*
1
Nutritional Sciences Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA
2
Cancer Prevention, Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2018, 10(8), 973; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10080973
Submission received: 14 May 2018 / Revised: 12 July 2018 / Accepted: 17 July 2018 / Published: 27 July 2018

Abstract

:
Novel technology-based dietary assessment methods use volume estimates of foods to assess dietary intake. However, the nutrient content of standard databases is based on food weight. The goal of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (USDA-SR) estimates of volume and the corresponding macronutrient content of the foods. The weights of 35 individual food volumes were measured (on trial) and compared to the USDA-SR-determined weight for the food volume. Macronutrient content corresponding to the trial weight and the USDA-SR weight for the food volume (USDA) were determined using the USDA-SR, and the differences were calculated. There were statistically significant differences between the USDA and trial weights for 80% of foods measured. Calorie estimates by USDA weight were significantly lower than that of trial weight for 54% of foods but were significantly greater for 26% of foods. Differences in macronutrient estimates by trial and USDA weight varied by food type. These findings suggest that nutrient databases based on food weight may not provide accurate estimates of dietary intake when assessed using food volumes. Further development of image-assisted dietary assessment methods which measure food volumes will necessitate evaluation of the accuracy of the processes used to convert weight to volume in nutrient databases.

1. Introduction

Traditional dietary assessment tools, such as multiple-day food records and interviewer-assisted 24-h recalls, rely on self-assessment of the amounts of foods eaten. However, it is a well-documented fact that people cannot accurately recall or estimate the amount of food they consume [1,2,3]. Emerging technology-based dietary assessment methods that use images to assess the types and amounts of foods people consume have the potential to provide more objective estimates of dietary intake. As part of the development and validation of these new methods, it will be important to consider the accuracy of standard nutrient databases to estimate nutrient content information from food volumes as opposed to weights.
The United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (USDA-SR) [4] is the primary source of food composition data in the US and serves as the foundation for most public and private food and nutrient databases, such as the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDS-R) [5]. USDA-SR is compiled of data from published and unpublished sources, including the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS), studies conducted by the USDA and contractors, lab analyses, algorithms, factors, or recipes [6]. The nutrient content information in these databases is largely based on food weights, not volumes, as food weight is considered the gold standard of measurement [6,7]. Although density factors have been developed for many of the foods to enable their conversion into household (volume) measures, the algorithms or processes used within USDA-SR are not fully known.
In this study, we evaluate the extent to which estimates of food portion sizes measured by volume differ from those measured by weight, and assess the subsequent differences in estimated macronutrient content of these food portion sizes when based on volume and weight.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Sample Size and Food Selection

Trials were performed on a total of 35 individual foods. Foods from each of the six USDA MyPlate [8] food categories (fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, protein foods, and fats/oils) were selected to reflect the foods most commonly consumed by Americans, while allowing for variation in water content and shape [9,10]. Combination or mixed foods, such as soups and casseroles, were excluded for these experiments. A single preparation method was selected for most foods, and for a small number of foods (n = 4), multiple preparation methods were applied in order to assess differences in weight and nutrient content for one food prepared in multiple ways. Independent trials were completed on ten percent of foods chosen at random (potato (½ cup and 10 fries), chicken breast (whole and chopped), ice cream, regular salad dressing) for quality control.

2.2. Trial Volumes

Selected trial volumes for most individual food trials were based on MyPlate portion sizes [8]. Fruits and vegetables were measured as ½ cup-equivalents, grains as two ounce-equivalents, and dairy as one-cup equivalents, except ice cream, which was measured according to the serving size portion listed on the Nutrition Facts panel (½ cup). Protein foods were measured as individual portion sizes (patty, breast, large egg) between one or three ounce-equivalents, except bacon (three slices), which was measured according to the serving size portion listed on the Nutrition Facts panel. Fats/oils were measured between one and two tablespoons, depending on the individual food [8].

2.3. Preparation Methods

All foods were prepared in a commercial-grade metabolic research kitchen at the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) Human Nutrition Lab (HNL) by a single trained dietetic technician (EKP). Foods needing no preparation, such as raspberries, were measured ‘as purchased’. If a food needed to be manipulated, alterations included first removing inedible portions, then size being manipulated (for example, sliced, chopped, or diced). Foods not commonly consumed raw were cooked according to protocols used by the FHCRC HNL, or by packaging instructions. The preparation method for each food was chosen based on available options in the USDA-SR 28 [4]. The LanguaL Thesaurus [11] was consulted to define standard size manipulations, and parchment paper with cut size markings was used for guidance. Details of selected foods, volumes, and preparation methods are available in Table 1.

2.4. Data Collection

For each trial, a prepared food was weighed at the test volume to determine its weight in grams, herein referred to as trial weight. Ten replicates per preparation method were completed for each food. Foods were measured at the test volume using standard food measuring tools; the same instrument was used throughout each trial and cleaned (washed and dried) between replicates. For each food trial, the USDA weight and macronutrient content for the test volume was determined by entering the test volume directly into USDA-SR to yield the corresponding gram weight and macronutrient content. For a small number of foods (n = 3), a volume option was not available in the USDA-SR; thus, the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) database (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA) [5] was used to determine the corresponding gram weight and macronutrient content.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

For each food trial, the means and standard deviations of the 10 trial weight replicates were calculated. The USDA weight was set for each test volume at the value obtained from the USDA-SR database. Percentage differences between the trial and USDA weights, defined as the difference of trial weight subtracted from USDA weight divided by USDA weight, were determined for each replicate, and overall mean percentage differences between the trial and USDA weight were calculated. Similar methods were used to determine absolute differences in macronutrient content between trial and USDA weight for the selected trial volume of an individual food. For each food, one-sample t-tests were used to evaluate whether the mean differences between trial (average of 10 replicates), USDA weights, and nutrient contents were significantly different from zero. Statistical analyses were conducted using Statistics and Data (STATA) software (Release 14, College Station, TX, USA).

3. Results

Table 2 summarizes the mean trial weight, USDA weight, and mean percentage difference in trial and USDA weight for test volumes of individual foods. For 80% of food trials, there were statistically significant relative differences between the USDA and trial weights of the selected trial volume, ranging from −103.4% for sliced onions to +38.7% for shredded cheddar cheese. Within individual food groups, relative differences between USDA and trial weights were statistically significant for 65% of fruit and vegetable, 67% of grain, 100% of dairy, 77% of protein, and 100% of fat/oil foods, though there were no discernable patterns in either the direction or magnitude of relative weight differences across food categories.
Table 3 provides estimates of calorie and macronutrient content corresponding to the USDA and trial weights, and their differences, for selected volumes of individual foods. Absolute differences between USDA and mean trial weight-derived calorie estimates for selected food volumes ranged from 0 to 60 kcal, and largely mirrored those reported for weights (Table 2). For 52% of food trials, calories determined by USDA weight were significantly lower than by trial weight, and for 26% of foods, calories determined by USDA were significantly greater than by trial weight, although the absolute value of these differences was small for many foods. The largest calorie differences between USDA and trial weight were found for dairy foods; calories determined by trial weight for ice cream were 60 ± 3 kcal less than by USDA weight (p < 0.0001). Conversely, for shredded cheddar cheese, calories determined by trial weight were 59 ± 2 kcal greater than by USDA weight (p < 0.0001).
Differences in estimated macronutrient content between USDA and trial weight were dependent on food type (Table 3). Higher-fat foods, like shredded cheddar cheese and nuts, tended to have the largest absolute differences in estimates of fat content, although the direction of differences was inconsistent. In general, the absolute differences in estimated protein content were small for fruit and vegetable foods, which have lower protein content, but were quite large for protein and dairy foods. Similarly, absolute differences in estimated carbohydrate content between USDA and trial weight were largest for grains, dairy, and vegetables, but were relatively small for protein foods and fats/oils (Table 3).

4. Discussion

In this study we compared weights for selected food volumes measured in a research kitchen with those derived from the USDA-SR database. Overall, we found statistically significant differences between the USDA-derived and trial weights for 76% of the foods tested. In addition, there were significant differences in corresponding calorie estimates derived from the USDA and trial weights for 78% of foods. These findings suggest that the processes used to convert weight into volume in the USDA-SR may not provide accurate estimates of volume for many foods and may subsequently lead to inaccurate estimates of caloric and nutrient intake.
Efforts to develop improved methods of dietary assessment that employ more objective measures of intake have recently gained attention [12,13,14], with many innovative technologies focusing on the use of images to estimate food volumes [15,16,17,18,19,20]. Using images to calculate volumes, these methods hold promise to provide more accurate estimates of the amounts of foods which people eat. The potential of these novel approaches, however, may be limited by the fact that nutrient content information in available databases is currently based on food weights, and estimates of food density, or weight for unit food volume, are required to convert volume into weight. For many foods in these databases, food density has been generated; however, little information is available about the algorithms and processes used to convert weight to volume, and the accuracy of these data are uncertain [6,21,22].
For most of the foods evaluated in this study, USDA weights for the selected trial volume tended to be greater than the measured weights. For some foods—primarily, fruits, vegetables, and fats/oils—the absolute differences between the USDA-derived and trial weights for food volume were modest, indicating that the algorithms or processes used to convert weight to volume for these foods were relatively accurate. For other foods, such as dairy, high-protein, and some manipulated or prepared foods, there were substantial differences between the measured and USDA weights for the trial food volume. Differences between the USDA and measured weight for a given volume may, in part, have been due to the protocols followed for manipulating or preparing foods. For example, many foods that required cooking preparations, such as potato, chicken, egg, bacon, and rice, had statistically significant differences between the USDA and trial weights (all p < 0.05). Cooking time, heat intensity, and water retention/release can vary through the cooking process and between protocols used (trial vs. USDA), which may impact cooking yield, thereby contributing to the observed differences in USDA and trial weight for the selected test volume. For foods that were manipulated, variations in packing and differences in protocols used for manipulation may account for some differences between the USDA and measured weight for a given food volume. In our trials, manipulation methods were defined by the LanguaL Thesaurus and were standardized across trials. For some foods in the USDA-SR, different manipulation methods of the same food are grouped together, such as quartered and chopped apples. As a result, the weight and nutrient content for the same volume of each form of the food is identical, even though the size, shape, and air space upon packing differs greatly. It is important to note that image-assessed food volumes will inherently include air space, due to food packing; therefore, nutrient database conversions for weight to volume will need to be equivalently determined.
Because weight is the standard by which USDA-SR determines nutrient content, differences between the USDA-derived and trial weight for a given food volume yielded corresponding differences in calorie and macronutrient content estimates. Over 70% of foods, regardless of food group, that had significant differences between USDA-derived and trial weight for a given food volume also had corresponding significant differences in calorie estimates, though we found no apparent pattern within or across food groups in the magnitude or direction of these differences. However, the corresponding differences between USDA and trial weight-derived macronutrient content was dependent on the nutrient composition of the individual food; foods dense in a specific macronutrient tended to have greater differences in that macronutrient. For example, for high-fat foods such as pecans, even small absolute differences between the USDA-derived and trial weights yielded substantial differences in calorie and fat content estimates (difference between USDA–trial weight-derived weight, calories and fat: −7.8 g, −53.7 kcal; −5.6 g fat (both p < −0.0001)). The overall impact of differences between weight and volume-based measures of dietary intake will depend heavily on the individual foods people eat. In order to further evaluate this potential impact, the extent to which estimates of food portion sizes measured by volume differ from those measured by weight would need to be measured for an extensive list of foods.
To our knowledge, this is the first study to report differences in nutrient database information by volume and weight. Foods were systematically selected based on popularity in the US diet, and were measured and prepared via standardized methods defined by the LanguaL Thesaurus. In addition, multiple replicates were measured for each food and food preparation method, to align with the sampling methods used for USDA-SR. However, this study is not without limitations. Data from individual replicates were not publicly available for USDA-SR; thus, our estimates of mean differences between the trial and USDA relied only on a single value of the USDA mean, which may be anti-conservative. For some foods, the number of replicates used in this study (n = 10) may be less than that assessed by the USDA, which would reduce the accuracy of our measurements compared to those made by the USDA. In addition, while most preparation methods were available via the LanguaL Thesaurus, cooking heat and time were unavailable for most cooked foods. Instead, protocols defined by the Human Nutrition Laboratory at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center were followed, and may differ from those used by the USDA. For our trials, we purposely selected generic options; thus for some foods, the differences reported here may also reflect differences in the exact foods measured. Lastly, this study was limited to single and non-mixed foods. Although the foods chosen represent foods commonly eaten by Americans, they may be less representative of foods prevalent in everyday diets.

5. Conclusions

This study demonstrates that for selected food volumes, substantial differences existed between the corresponding USDA-derived and trial weights measured in a research kitchen. The differences between the USDA-derived and trial weights for a selected food volume also resulted in parallel differences between estimated macronutrient content. As the primary source of food composition data in the US, researchers rely heavily on the USDA-SR database, either directly or indirectly, to estimate dietary intake of nutrients.
Given the development of new image-assisted dietary assessment methods that provide objective measures food volume, it is important to assess the accuracy of nutrient databases to estimate nutrient content based on food volumes. The findings reported here suggest that the estimation of dietary intake using food volumes may not provide accurate estimates of nutrient intake. Most nutrient databases commonly used in the US are based on USDA-SR nutrient data, and thus would be affected by the same inaccuracies. Whether the same issues are apparent in other food and nutrient databases around the world is unknown. In order to better understand the impact of these discrepancies on assessment of dietary and micronutrient intake, further evaluation of the accuracy of processes used to convert weight to volume in the USDA-SR is warranted.

Author Contributions

E.K.P. and K.B. collected the data. E.K.P. and J.M.S. wrote the first draft with contributions from M.L.N. All authors reviewed and commented on subsequent drafts of the manuscript.

Funding

Please add: This research was funded in part by National Cancer Institute grants numbered U01-CA135133 and P30-CA15704.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by P30 CA15704 and U01-CA135133.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Table 1. Descriptions of selected foods and preparation methods used for trials.
Table 1. Descriptions of selected foods and preparation methods used for trials.
Measured Portion SizesPreparation MethodAs Purchased or Edible PortionUSDA Food DescriptionPurchased Food Description (If Applicable)USDA
Number
Fruits
Strawberries½ cupHalvesEdible PortionStrawberries, raw 09316
Cantaloupe½ cupCubed 2Edible PortionMelons, cantaloupe, raw 09181
Peaches½ cupSliced 2Drained of LiquidsPeaches, canned, heavy syrup, drained 09370
Oranges½ cupSectioned, with and without membranesEdible PortionOranges, raw, all commercial varietiesNavel Oranges09200
Raspberries½ cupWholeAs PurchasedRaspberries, raw 09302
Apples½ cupQuartered, sliced, and chopped 2Edible PortionApples, raw, with skinGala Apples09003
Seedless Grapes½ cupWholeEdible PortionGrapes, red or green (European type, such as Thompson seedless), rawRed Grapes09132
Bananas½ cupSliced 2Edible PortionBananas, raw 09040
Avocados½ cupCubed 2Edible PortionAvocados, raw, all commercial varieties 09037
Raisins¼ cup 1PackedAs PurchasedRaisins, seedlessGeneric brand (Kroger), seedless from green grapes09298
Vegetables
Iceberg Lettuce½ cupChopped (loosely packed)Edible PortionLettuce, iceberg (includes crisphead types), raw 11252
Tomatoes½ cupChopped 2Edible PortionTomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average 11529
Potatoes, French fries 3½ cup & 10 fries 1Oven-heatedAs purchased, heatedPotatoes, French fried, crinkle or regular cut, salt added in processing, frozen, oven-heatedOre Ida frozen French-fried potatoes, regular cut11360
Onions½ cupSliced and chopped 2Edible PortionOnions, rawYellow onions11282
Sweet Corn½ cupDrained of liquidsAs PreparedCorn, sweet, yellow, canned, vacuum pack, regular packSantiam golden sweet whole kernel corn, canned11176
Grains
Bread2 slicesPre-SlicedAs PurchasedBread, wheatGeneric brand (Kroger), wheat bread18064
Pasta1 cupBoiled, not packedAs PurchasedPasta, cooked, enriched, without added saltGeneric brand (Kroger), enriched spaghetti20121
Rice1 cupBoiledAs PurchasedRice, white, long-grain, regular, enriched, cookedGeneric brand (Kroger), long grain 20045
Dairy
Cheese⅓ cupShreddedAs PurchasedCheese, cheddarGeneric brand (Kroger), all natural medium cheddar—purchased in a block and grated01009
Ice Cream 3½ cupNoneAs PurchasedIce creams, vanillaGeneric brand (Kroger), Vanilla19095
Yogurt1 cupNoneAs PurchasedYogurt, plain, skim milk, 13 grams protein per 8 ounceGeneric brand (Fred Meyer), non-fat, plain01118
Protein
Beef, ground7% fat4” diameter pattyPan-broiledAs PurchasedBeef, ground, 93% lean meat/7% fat, patty, cooked, pan-broiledGeneric brand (Kroger), 4” diameter using 114 g (¼ pound) of raw meat (patties were formed raw then cooked per HNL protocols)23474
30% fat4” diameter pattyPan-broiledAs PurchasedBeef, ground, 70% lean meat/30% fat, patty cooked, pan-broiledFresh from butcher (Marketime foods)13496
Chicken Breast, without skin 3Roasted1 breastRoasted, whole and chopped 2As PurchasedChicken, broilers or fryers, breast, meat only, cooked, roastedFoster Farms, breast fillets05064
Egg, largeScrambled1 large EggScrambledEdible PortionEgg, whole, cooked, scrambledGeneric brand (Fred Meyer) large eggs, grade AA 301132
BaconPan-fried3 slicesPan-friedAs PurchasedPork, cured, bacon, pre-sliced, cooked, pan-friedGeneric brand (Fred Meyer), traditional cut, sugar cured10862
Cashews⅛ cupRaw, wholeAs PurchasedNuts, cashew nuts, rawRaw, whole, purchased in bulk12087
Almonds⅛ cupRaw, wholeAs PurchasedNuts, almondsBlue Diamond, raw, whole 12061
Pecans⅛ cupRaw, halvesAs PurchasedNuts, pecansDiamond of California, raw12142
Peanut Butter2 tablespoonsNoneAs PurchasedPeanut butter, smooth style, with saltGeneric brand (Fred Meyer)16098
Fats, Oils
Margarine1 tablespoonNoneAs PurchasedMargarine, regular, hard, soybean (hydrogenated)Generic brand (Fred Meyer)04073
Canola Oil2 tablespoonsNoneAs PurchasedOil, canolaGeneric brand (Kroger)04582
Mayonnaise2 tablespoons NoneAs PurchasedSalad dressing, mayonnaise, regularGeneric brand (Fred Meyer)04025
Dressing, Italian 32 tablespoons NoneAs PurchasedSalad dressing, Italian dressing, commercial, regularGeneric brand (Fred Meyer), Zesty Italian04114
Salsa2 tablespoons NoneAs PurchasedSauce, salsa, ready-to-servePace brand, Picante Medium06164
Ketchup2 tablespoons NoneAs PurchasedCatsupGeneric brand (Fred Meyer)11935
1 MyPlate volumetric equivalents. ½ cup fruit equivalent = ½ cup hydrated fruit = ¼ cup dried fruit. ½ cup vegetable equivalent = 10 French fries. 2 Standard preparation methods and their parameters are as follows: Sliced: between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm [11]. For consistency, the investigator measured slices to 1 cm. Cubed: >1.5 cm. For consistency, the investigator attempted to cut each cube side to 2 cm. Chopped: Item divided into pieces with a thickness <0.3 cm [11]. For consistency, the investigator chopped items as close to 0.25 cm as possible. 3 Foods that were re-measured for quality control tests. 4 Grade AA eggs have thick, firm whites and high, round yolks. USDA: United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database; HNL: Human Nutrition Lab.
Table 2. Comparison of mean measured (trial) weights of individual foods to the USDA-SR (United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference) 28 database weight for selected food volumes.
Table 2. Comparison of mean measured (trial) weights of individual foods to the USDA-SR (United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference) 28 database weight for selected food volumes.
Selected Test VolumeTrial Weight (g) Mean (sd) 1USDA Weight (g) Mean 2% Difference 3
Mean (se) 4
Fruits
Strawberries, halved½ cup75.8 (5.5)76.00.3 (2.3)
Cantaloupe, cubed½ cup85.7 (8)80.0−7.2 (3.2) 6
Peaches, sliced½ cup110.6 (4.4)111.00.4 (1.3)
Orange sections Membrane½ cup98.9 (5.1)90.0−9.9 (2.0) 8
No Membrane½ cup98.9 (3.9)90.0−9.9 (1.4) 8
Raspberries, whole½ cup61.8 (3.8)61.5−0.5 (2.0)
ApplesQuartered½ cup76.7 (5.1)62.5−22.6 (2.6) 8
Sliced½ cup87.3 (5.2)54.5−60.2 (3.0) 8
Chopped½ cup67.31 (2.5)62.5−7.7 (1.3) 7
Grapes, seedless, whole½ cup91.8 (2.8)75.5−21.6 (1.2) 8
Bananas, sliced½ cup76.7 (4.5)75.0−2.3 (1.9)
Avocados, cubed½ cup90.0 (7.3)75.0−20.0 (3.1) 8
Raisins, packed½ cup44.2 (2.2)41.25−7.1 (1.7) 7
Vegetables
Iceberg Lettuce, chopped½ cup30.0 (2.9)28.5−5.3 (3.2)
Tomatoes, chopped½ cup107.1 (4.1)90.0−19.0 (1.4) 8
Potatoes, French fries10 fries47.9 (6.8)69.030.6 (2.2) 8
½ cup 551.6 (3.6)52.00.9 (1.6)
Onions, rawSliced½ cup116.9 (15.5)57.5−103.4 (8.5) 8
Chopped½ cup81.3 (3.9)80.0−1.6 (1.5)
Sweet Corn, canned, drained½ cup87.5 (5.7)105.016.6 (1.7) 8
Grains
Bread, wheat, sliced2 slices58.4 (2.7)58.0−0.6 (1.4)
Pasta, enriched, spaghetti1 cup119.0 (3.4)124.04.0 (0.9) 7
Rice, white, long grain, enriched1 cup182.7 (17.7)158.0−15.6 (3.5) 7
Dairy
Cheddar cheese, shredded⅓ cup23.1 (1.5)37.638.7 (1.2) 8
Ice Cream, vanilla½ cup95.3 (6.5)66.0−44.4 (1.5) 8
Yogurt, skim1 cup260.8 (1.2)245.0−6.4 (0.2) 8
Protein
Beef, patty7% fat4” patty 584.2 (3.2)81.6−3.1 (1.2) 6
30% fat4” patty71.2 (3.4)77.07.5 (1.4) 8
Chicken Breast, without skin, roastedWhole1 breast206.2 (43.8)172.0−19.9 (5.7) 7
Chopped1 cup139.1 (3.9)140.00.7 (0.7)
Egg, large, scrambled1 large egg43.9 (2.5)61.028.0 (1.3) 8
Bacon, regular cut, pan-fried3 slices26.9 (5.3)34.522.1 (4.8) 7
Cashews, raw, whole⅛ cup 524.3 (1.9)16.1−50.7 (3.8) 8
Almonds, raw, whole⅛ cup24.8 (1.9)17.9−38.7 (3.3) 8
Pecans, raw, halved⅛ cup20.2 (1.3)12.4−63.2 (3.3) 8
Peanut Butter, smooth2 T29.7 (0.9)32.07.2 (0.9) 8
Fats and Oils
Margarine1 T14.3 (0.2)14.1−1.6 (0.5) 6
Canola Oil2 T25.5 (0.3)28.08.8 (0.4) 8
Mayonnaise2 T29.0 (0.4)27.6−5.1 (0.4) 8
Dressing, Italian, regular2 T30.6 (0.9)29.4−4.0 (0.7) 8
Salsa2 T32.9 (1.5)36.08.8 (1.3) 8
Ketchup2 T34.3 (0.3)34.0−1.0 (0.2) 7
1 Mean and standard deviation determined by 10 experimental weight replicates. 2 Estimate of variance not available from USDA-SR 28. 3 (USDA Weight—Trial Weight)/USDA weight. 4 Standard error from one-sample t-test. 5 Nutrient content unavailable in USDA-SR 28, value obtained from NDSR (Nutrition Data System for Research). 6 p < 0.05, 7 p < 0.01, 8 p < 0.001.
Table 3. Mean macronutrient values obtained from USDA-SR 28 based on trial volume and USDA volume and their differences (USDA Volume–Trial Volume).
Table 3. Mean macronutrient values obtained from USDA-SR 28 based on trial volume and USDA volume and their differences (USDA Volume–Trial Volume).
Calories (kcal)Total Fat (g)Protein (g)Carbohydrate (g)
WeightDiff: Mean (se)WeightDiff: Mean (se)WeightDiff: Mean (se)WeightDiff: Mean (se)
TrialUSDATrialUSDATrialUSDATrialUSDA
Fruits
Strawberries, halved2424−0.3 (0.56)0.20.20 (0.01)0.50.50 (0.01)5.85.80.02 (0.13)
Cantaloupe, cubed2927−2.3 (0.9) *0.20.2−0.01 (0) *0.70.7−0.05 (0.02) *76.5−0.47 (0.21) *
Peaches, sliced80800.4 (0.99)0.20.20 (0)0.60.60 (0.01)20200.08 (0.26)
Orange sectionsMembrane4642−4.4 (0.76) ***0.10.1−0.01 (0) **0.90.9−0.08 (0.02) ***1211−1.04 (0.19) ***
No Membrane4742−4.5 (0.56) ***0.10.1−0.01 (0) ***0.90.9−0.08 (0.01) ***1211−1.04 (0.15) ***
Raspberries, whole32320 (0.67)0.40.40 (0)0.70.70 (0.01)7.47.3−0.04 (0.14)
ApplesQuartered4032−7.9 (0.81) ***0.10.1−0.02 (0) ***0.20.2−0.04 (0) ***118.6−1.96 (0.22) ***
Sliced4528−17.4 (0.87) ***0.20.1−0.06 (0) ***0.30.1−0.09 (0) ***127.5−4.53 (0.23) ***
Chopped3532−3 (0.37) ***0.10.1−0.01 (0) *0.20.2−0.01 (0) ***9.38.6−0.67 (0.11) ***
Grapes, seedless, whole63695.7 (0.58) ***0.20.20.01 (0) ***0.70.70.06 (0.01) ***17181.48 (0.16) ***
Bananas, sliced6867−1.3 (1.26)0.30.30 (0)0.90.8−0.02 (0.02)1817−0.39 (0.32)
Avocados, cubed144120−24.1 (3.73) ***130.1−2.19 (0.34) ***1.81.5−0.3 (0.05) ***7.76.4−1.28 (0.2) ***
Raisins, packed 132123−9.1 (2.09) **0.20.2−0.02 (0) **1.41.3−0.09 (0.02) **3533−2.3 (0.56) **
Vegetables
Iceberg Lettuce, chopped44−0.1 (0.1)000 (0)0.30.3−0.01 (0.01)0.90.9−0.04 (0.03)
Tomatoes, chopped1916−3.3 (0.26) ***0.20.2−0.03 (0) ***0.90.8−0.15 (0.01) ***4.23.5−0.67 (0.05) ***
Potatoes, French fries10 fries7911535.6 (2.5) ***2.53.51.08 (0.08) ***1.21.70.53 (0.04) ***13195.82 (0.42) ***
½ cup8685−0.55 (1.35)2.72.70.07 (0.04)1.31.2−0.06 (0.02) **14140.25 (0.22)
Onions, rawSliced4723−23.7 (1.94) ***0.10.1−0.06 (0) ***1.30.6−0.66 (0.05) ***115.4−5.55 (0.46) ***
Chopped3232−0.4 (0.52)0.10.10 (0)0.90.9−0.01 (0.01)7.67.5−0.12 (0.12)
Sweet Corn, canned, drained698313.9 (1.39) ***0.40.50.08 (0.01) ***2.12.50.42 (0.04) ***17203.39 (0.35) ***
Grains
Bread, wheat, sliced156155−0.7 (2.19)1.91.9−0.01 (0.03)6.36.2−0.04 (0.09)2828−0.18 (0.41)
Pasta, enriched, spaghetti1881967.8 (1.7) *1.11.20.04 (0.01) **6.97.20.29 (0.06) **37381.53 (0.33) **
Rice, white, long grain, enriched246205−40.5 (2.24) ***0.50.4−0.09 (0) ***5.14.3−0.83 (0.05) ***5345−8.7 (0.48) ***
Dairy
Cheddar cheese, shredded9315258.8 (1.9) ***7.7134.85 (0.16) ***5.38.63.34 (0.11) ***0.71.20.45 (0.01) ***
Ice Cream, vanilla197137−60.25 (3.02) ***107.3−3.23 (0.16) ***3.32.3−1.03 (0.05) ***2316−6.92 (0.35) ***
Yogurt, skim146137−9.2 (0.2) ***0.50.4−0.031514−0.9 (0.02) ***2019−1.21 (0.03) ***
Protein
Beef, patty a7% fat1531551.8 (1.83)6.76.80.01 (0.08)22220.56 (0.26)0.10−0.05 (0)
30% fat17018313.5 (2.53) ***11120.9 (0.17) ***16181.32 (0.24) ***NANANA
Chicken Breast, without skin, roastedWhole340284−56.3 (16.14) **7.46.1−1.22 (0.35) **6453−10.61 (3.03) **NANANA
Chopped2302311.3 (1.45)550.03 (0.03)43430.28 (0.27)NANANA
Egg, large, scrambled659125.8 (1.15) ***4.86.71.88 (0.09) ***4.46.11.7 (0.08) ***0.710.27 (0.01) ***
Bacon, regular cut, pan-fried12616135.2 (7.83) **9.4122.68 (0.58) **9.1122.58 (0.56) **0.50.60.13 (0.03) **
Cashews, raw, whole13489−45.4 (3.35) ***117.1−3.58 (0.27) ***4.42.9−1.49 (0.11) ***7.34.9−2.47 (0.19) ***
Almonds, raw, whole144103−40.5 (3.39) ***128.9−3.46 (0.29) ***5.23.8−1.47 (0.12) ***5.43.9−1.5 (0.13) ***
Pecans, raw, halved14086−53.7 (2.8) ***158.9−5.64 (0.3) ***1.91.1−0.72 (0.04) ***2.81.7−1.08 (0.06) ***
Peanut Butter, smooth17819113.3 (1.8) ***15161.19 (0.15) ***6.67.10.52 (0.07) ***6.67.10.52 (0.07) ***
Fats and Oils
Margarine103101−2.1 (0.5) **1211−0.18 (0.06) *0.10.10 (0.00)0.10.10 (0.00)
Canola Oil22624822.1 (0.85) ***26282.46 (0.10) ***000 (0.00)NANANA
Mayonnaise197188−9.4 (0.79) ***2221−1.05 (0.08) ***0.30.3−0.02 (0) ***0.20.2−0.01 (0) *
Dressing, Italian, Regular7371−2.4 (0.5) ***6.56.2−0.25 (0.04) ***0.10.1−0.01 (0) ***3.73.6−0.15 (0.02) ***
Salsa10100.5 (0.17) *0.10.10.003 (0)0.50.60.05 (0.01) ***2.22.40.21 (0.03) ***
Ketchup3534−0.7 (0.15) **000 (0.00)0.40.4−0.01 (0) **9.49.3−0.09 (0.02) **
NA: Not Applicable; a Nutrient content unavailable in USDA-SR 28, value obtained from NDSR. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.

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Partridge, E.K.; Neuhouser, M.L.; Breymeyer, K.; Schenk, J.M. Comparison of Nutrient Estimates Based on Food Volume versus Weight: Implications for Dietary Assessment Methods. Nutrients 2018, 10, 973. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10080973

AMA Style

Partridge EK, Neuhouser ML, Breymeyer K, Schenk JM. Comparison of Nutrient Estimates Based on Food Volume versus Weight: Implications for Dietary Assessment Methods. Nutrients. 2018; 10(8):973. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10080973

Chicago/Turabian Style

Partridge, Emma K., Marian L. Neuhouser, Kara Breymeyer, and Jeannette M. Schenk. 2018. "Comparison of Nutrient Estimates Based on Food Volume versus Weight: Implications for Dietary Assessment Methods" Nutrients 10, no. 8: 973. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10080973

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