OBJECTIVETo examine status and trend in dietary vitamin C intake between 1991 and 2009 in Chinese children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years.

METHODSA stratified multistage, random cluster sampling process was used to investigate 2716, 2691, 2507, 2358, 1490, 1218 and 1073 children and adolescents aged 6 - 17 years in 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2009 respectively in 9 provinces. Their consecutive 3 d 24 h dietary recall data were analyzed to compare vitamin C intake in children and adolescents with different characteristics and different years.

RESULTSThe median of dietary vitamin C intake in Chinese children and adolescents decreased from 69.7 mg/d in 1991 to 53.4 mg/d in 2009 (χ(2) = 188.1, P < 0.01). Vitamin C intake of rural children and adolescents decreased from 73.7 mg/d in 1991 to 52.5 mg/d in 2009 (χ(2) = 96.7, P < 0.01); vitamin C intake of children and adolescents in the low-income household decreased from 74.3 mg/d in 1991 to 47.5 mg/d in 2009 (χ(2) = 172.9, P < 0.01). The percentage of children and adolescents whose vitamin C intake equal or higher than recommended nutrient intake of vitamin C decreased from 35.9% (974/2716) in 1991 to 18.5% (198/1073) in 2009 (χ(2) = 284.7, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere was a decreased trend in dietary vitamin C in Chinese children and adolescents during the past two decades. The children and adolescents of low-income household in rural areas may pose a higher risk of inadequate vitamin C intake.