Assessing Dietary Intake of Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 in Teenage Girls

Development and Validation of Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess the Dietary Intake of Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 Among Teenage Girls in South Ethiopia.

Observational University Ghent · NCT06094023

This study is trying to create a new food survey to see how much folic acid and vitamin B12 teenage girls in South Ethiopia are getting in their diets to help improve their health.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment120 (estimated)
Ages13 Years to 19 Years
SexFemale
SponsorUniversity Ghent Academic / other
Locations1 site (Arba Minch)
Trial IDNCT06094023 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to develop and validate a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to accurately assess dietary intake of folic acid and vitamin B12 among teenage girls in South Ethiopia. The methodology includes comparing the food frequency questionnaire results with multiple-pass 24-hour dietary recalls over a three-month period. The focus is on addressing deficiencies in these vitamins, which are linked to various health issues, including anemia and cognitive development. The study seeks to create reliable tools for future dietary assessments in this demographic.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are teenage girls aged 13 to 19 years who are familiar with local diet and cooking practices.

Not a fit: Teenage girls who are pregnant or lactating will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a validated tool for assessing dietary intake, helping to identify and address vitamin deficiencies in teenage girls.

How similar studies have performed: While dietary assessment tools have been developed in other contexts, this specific approach for folic acid and vitamin B12 in Ethiopian adolescents is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* One or both of their parents signed an informed consent form and the girls agreed.
* Their parents and the girl planned to stay during the period of the study (minimum 9 months) in the kebele.
* Aged between 13 and 19 years
* Familiar with the diet and cooking practices
* Accept enumerators for home visit and data collection for one year

Exclusion Criteria:

* Teenage girls who are pregnant and/or are lactating

Where this trial is running

Arba Minch

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Dietary AssessmentDietary assessmentFood Frequency QuestionnaireMulti-pass 24 hour food recallSemi-quantitativeVitamin B12Folic acid
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.