OBJECTIVETo understand the daily calcium intake, food sources and the trends among Chinese children and adolescents aged 4 to 17 years from 1991 to 2009.

METHODSConsecutive 3-day-24-hour dietary recall data from the seven waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey(CHNS)was used to describe the status and trends of daily calcium intake and related food sources.

RESULTSBetween 1991 and 2009, the daily intake of calcium in Chinese children and adolescents showed an increasing trend. In 2009, the average intakes of calcium in Chinese boys and girls were 311.2 mg/d and 294.6 mg/d, respectively. 81.5%-87.6% of boys and 87.0%-91.0% of girls had their calcium intakes less than half of the recommended amount of adequate intakes. Only 0.2%-0.8% of boys and 0.1%-0.8% of girls had their calcium intakes equal or higher than the recommended amount of adequate intakes. The sources of dietary calcium were mainly from vegetables, legumes, cereals and milk products for Chinese children and adolescents, accounting for more than 70% of the average daily intakes.

CONCLUSIONDuring the past two decades, the dietary calcium intake of Chinese children and adolescents still remained at lower level, suggesting that the optimal food sources of calcium were under-consumed.