QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ruel, M. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ruel, M. T.

---

Supplement: Animal Source Foods to Improve Micronutrient Nutrition in Developing Countries

Operationalizing Dietary Diversity: A Review of Measurement Issues and Research Priorities^1,2

Food Consumption and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, D.C. 20006

³ To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: m.ruel{at}cgiar.org.

Dietary diversity (DD) is universally recognized as a key component of healthy diets. There is still, however, a lack of consensus on how to measure and operationalize DD. This article reviews published literature on DD, with a focus on the conceptual and operational issues related to its measurement in developing countries. Findings from studies of the association between DD and individual nutrient adequacy, child growth and/or household socioeconomic factors are summarized. DD is usually measured using a simple count of foods or food groups over a given reference period, but a number of different groupings, classification systems and reference periods have been used. This limits comparability and generalizability of findings. The few studies that have validated DD against nutrient adequacy in developing countries confirm the well-documented positive association observed in developed countries. A consistent positive association between dietary diversity and child growth is also found in a number of countries. Evidence from a multicountry analysis suggests that household-level DD diversity is strongly associated with household per capita income and energy availability, suggesting that DD could be a useful indicator of food security. The nutritional contribution of animal foods to nutrient adequacy is indisputable, but the independent role of animal foods relative to overall dietary quality for child growth and nutrition remains poorly understood. DD is clearly a promising measurement tool, but additional research is required to improve and harmonize measurement approaches and indicators. Validation studies are also needed to test the usefulness of DD indicators for various purposes and in different contexts.

KEY WORDS: • dietary diversity • dietary quality • developing countries • food security • indicators

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Mpontshane, J. Van den Broeck, M. Chhagan, K. K. A. Luabeya, A. Johnson, and M. L. Bennish HIV Infection Is Associated with Decreased Dietary Diversity in South African Children J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1705 - 1711. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Sabbe, I. De Bourdeaudhuij, E. Legiest, and L. Maes A cluster-analytical approach towards physical activity and eating habits among 10-year-old children Health Educ. Res., November 17, 2007; (2007) cyl135v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S. Drescher, S. Thiele, and G. B. M. Mensink A New Index to Measure Healthy Food Diversity Better Reflects a Healthy Diet Than Traditional Measures J. Nutr., March 1, 2007; 137(3): 647 - 651. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. L. Kennedy, M. R. Pedro, C. Seghieri, G. Nantel, and I. Brouwer Dietary Diversity Score Is a Useful Indicator of Micronutrient Intake in Non-Breast-Feeding Filipino Children J. Nutr., February 1, 2007; 137(2): 472 - 477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Ponce, E. Ramirez, and H. Delisle A More Diversified Diet among Mexican Men May Also Be More Atherogenic J. Nutr., November 1, 2006; 136(11): 2921 - 2927. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. E. Alvarado, M. V. Zunzunegui, H. Delisle, and J. Osorno Growth Trajectories Are Influenced by Breast-Feeding and Infant Health in an Afro-Colombian Community J. Nutr., September 1, 2005; 135(9): 2171 - 2178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. Eckhardt, C. Suchindran, P. Gordon-Larsen, and L. S. Adair The Association between Diet and Height in the Postinfancy Period Changes with Age and Socioeconomic Status in Filipino Youths J. Nutr., September 1, 2005; 135(9): 2192 - 2198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. H. Allen Interventions for Micronutrient Deficiency Control in Developing Countries: Past, Present and Future J. Nutr., November 1, 2003; 133(11): 3875S - 3878. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]