OBJECTIVETo investigate milk consumption and effects on dietary nutrients and growth status among 7 - 17 years-old Chinese children in 9 provinces (autonomous region) from 1991 to 2006.

METHODSData was collected in 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006 China Health and Nutrition Survey, and 11 691 subjects aged 7 to 17 years old were included. The subjects were divided into the following groups according to milk consumption per day, 0 (no milk drinking), 1 - 99, 100 - 199, 200 - 299 and ≥ 300 g/d. Variables from different years were compared, such as milk categories, energy, protein, calcium intake, body mass index (BMI), as well as that dietary nutrients, height and weight among different milk consumption groups.

RESULTSFrom 1991 to 2006, milk drinking rate and milk consumption among Chinese children had great improvement: milk drinking rate reached to 14.1% (161/1145) in 2006, while that was 3.0% (73/2441) in 1991; milk consumption reached to (26.7 ± 85.0) g/d in 2006, which was 6.8 times of that in 1991 (3.9 ± 31.9) g/d (χ(2) = 474.5, P < 0.01). BMI increased from (17.3 ± 2.9) kg/m(2) in 1991 to (18.5 ± 6.0) kg/m(2) in 2006 (χ(2) = 123.5, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, energy intake decreased from (8653.3 ± 2789.2) kJ/d in 1991 to (8058.3 ± 2866.6) kJ/d in 2006 (χ(2) = 72.6, P < 0.01); protein intake decreased from (63.0 ± 22.8) g/d in 1991 to (57.3 ± 23.1) g/d in 2006 (χ(2) = 71.9, P < 0.01). Average height of 0 (no milk drinking), 1 - 99, 100 - 199, 200 - 299 and ≥ 300 g/d groups were (142.9 ± 16.9), (146.9 ± 18.8), (147.6 ± 16.2), (148.8 ± 16.0), (149.9 ± 15.3) cm, respectively (χ(2) = 29.4, P < 0.01); average weight were (37.1 ± 13.2), (40.3 ± 13.9), (41.3 ± 16.9), (41.7 ± 14.6), (41.4 ± 12.2) kg, respectively (χ(2) = 25.7, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn the period of 1991 to 2006, milk drinking rate and milk consumption has improved greatly. Main nutrient intake, height and weight increased with milk consumption.