Objective To investigate and determine the dietary intake level and food source of elements in Kashin-Beck disease(KBD) and non-endemic KBD areas in parts of Aba Autonomous Prefecture , Sichuan Province. Methods Three KBD villages were selected from each county including the counties of Songpan , Jiuzhaigou and Ruoergai in Aba Autonomous Prefecture with multi stage random sampling method in 2010 , and 122 KBD patients who were diagnosed at county-level or higher-level hospitals were selected from villages. One non-KBD village was selected randomly from each county and 43 controls without KBD or other bone and joint disease were selected in proportion to the number of investigated KBD patients. Dietary intake of each object was recorded 24 hours before the survey using a 24 hour dietary survey method and intake of each kind of food(cooked food) was recorded. Three day dietary intake of each surveyed object was recorded in continuous and the average value was calculated. The local resident representative food samples were collected and 20 kinds of elements in these samples were determined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ( ICP-MS ) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES), and daily elements intake was calculated and compared with the relevant intake standards. Results Daily intakes of vegetables and meat were 126.72, 28.25 g, respectively, in patients with KBD. More than 3 times of brick tea was drank by KBD patients than non-KBD people (P<0.05). Per capita daily intakes of Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Na, Zn, I, Cu and Co were less than recommended nutrient intake or allowable daily intake in both groups. More than 80% patients with KBD overtook more Al and Pb than tolerable upper intake levels. Conclusion There is a single dietary structure and a serious shortage of a variety of essential elements intake in parts of Aba Autonomous Prefecture, and the dietary intake level of elements is different between two groups.