OBJECTIVETo analyze the trends of food consumption among Chinese residents aged from 18 to 59 years old in 9 provinces (autonomous region) from 1989 to 2006.

METHODSThe paper was based on data collected in 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006 China Health and Nutrition Survey of Chinese residents of 24 h in three consecutive day dietary recall data. The healthy residents aged 18 - 59 years with twenty-four-hour dietary recall data were selected as study subjects. The sample sizes of these seven surveys were 5766, 7296, 7019, 7599, 8143, 7168 and 6827, respectively. The trends of their food consumption in each year were analyzed through Kruskal-wallis method.

RESULTSThe intake of cereals decreased significantly from (528.5 ± 192.9) g/d in 1989 to (427.7 ± 173.8) g/d in 2006 (χ(2) = 2833.13, P < 0.01). The minor variation of soybean food intake was observed. The average intake was (22.3 ± 39.4) g/d in 1989 and (18.9 ± 30.5) g/d in 2006 which was still at a low level. The trend of vegetables intake showed a small decrease. It was (374.5 ± 205.9) g/d in males and (346.4 ± 187.6) g/d in females in 2006, respectively. Both quantity and rate of fruits consumption showed an increase trend. Its consumption rate reached at 22.5% (741/3296) in males and 27.7% (1004/3619) in females in 2006, respectively. The average intake increased from (122.4 ± 126.9) g/d in 1989 to (228.5 ± 267.3) g/d in 2006 (χ(2) = 539.66, P < 0.01). At the same time, the daily intake of meat and egg showed a large increase, the average meat intake increased from (97.0 ± 111.5) g/d in males and (80.2 ± 97.0) g/d in females in 1989 to (141.5 ± 125.2) g/d in males and (118.4 ± 111.8) g/d in females in 2006, respectively. The oil consumption showed a significant increase. The average intake increased from (30.4 ± 37.9) g/d in 1989 to (42.8 ± 32.3) g/d in 2006 (χ(2) = 1646.94, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThere have been noticeable changes in the Chinese dietary pattern in the past 17 years. Some changes would be helpful for nutritional improvement in Chinese people, but it also caused some adverse effects on health because of improper food consumption.