OBJECTIVETo analyze the status of dietary sodium intake of 18 - 65 years old Chinese people in nine provinces (autonomous region) in 1991 and 2006.

METHODSIn 1991 and 2006, China Health and Nutrition Survey was carried out in nine provinces, including Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi and Guizhou, Subjects were selected by multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method from 18 - 65 years old people and 8235 subjects in 1991 and 7788 subjects in 2006. Sodium intake analysis was conducted across gender, regions and rural(urban) residences.

RESULTSOn average, sodium intake decreased from (6750.6 ± 3771.5) mg/d in 1991 to (4949.7 ± 2829.4) mg/d in 2006 (Z = -35.5, P < 0.01) among the 18 - 65 years old people. In 1991 and 2006, the main sources of dietary sodium were salt, soy sauce and vegetable. In 1991, the proportion were 79.6% ((5375.6 ± 3532) mg/d), 8.7% ((586.7 ± 721.7) mg/d) and 7.5% ((506.9 ± 906.1) mg/d), respectively. In 2006, the proportion were 71.5% ((3539.8 ± 2545) mg/d), 8.3% ((410.7 ± 547.9) mg/d) and 6.2% ((304.6 ± 610.7) mg/d), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSAmong 18 - 65 years old residents, sodium intake in 2006 was significantly lower than that in 1991, but still far beyond the 2200 mg/d of adequate intake level (2200 mg/d). The major source of sodium intake in Chinese diet was condiments.