OBJECTIVETo investigate trend of dietary nutrient intake among adult females in China.

METHODSThe changes of dietary energy and major nutrient intake among females aged 25 to 55 years in 9 provinces were analyzed by using the data from Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey, 2000-2011 (CHNS) and indicators of Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) 2013.

RESULTSDuring the past decade, the proportion of females with the intake of energy and protein meeting the requirement of recommendation decreased, while the proportion of females with low carbohydrate (< 50% energy) and high fat (> 30% energy) intakes increased. Meanwhile, the vitamin and mineral intakes among the females were also unsatisfactory, only small proportion of the females met the requirement for micronutrient intake, and this proportion continued to decline. In 2011, the proportion of the females who met the requirements for energy and protein intakes were 43.0% and 54.4%, respectively; the proportion of the females with low carbohydrate and high fat intakes were 40.2% and 63.8%, respectively; the proportion of females who met the requirements for vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C and vitamin E intakes were 25.2%, 10.7%, 6.9%, 54.9%, 24.3% and 88.5% respectively and the proportion of females who met the requirements for calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and selenium intakes were 3.3%, 23.6%, 50.9%, 75.7% and 13.3% respectively.

CONCLUSIONFurther nutritional education and intervention is needed to improve nutrition status among Chinese females.