Objective To explore the relationship between microelement intake and metabolic syndrome (MS) in elderly males and females in Zhejiang province. Methods Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare the intake of microelements by sex among different groups according to the diagnostic criteria of MS in 780 people(404 male,376 female).Logistic regression was used to explore the association between microelements and MS and its components.Results The percentages of inadequate intake of Mn,Zn and Se were relatively high among elderly people of Zhejiang province(males:30.45%,72.52%,75.74%;females:47.34%,33.78%,80.59%,respectively).Microelement intake in males were higher than females(P<0.05).The intake of Fe and Se were higher in the abdominal obesity group than the non-abdominal obesity group among elderly males,the intakes of Fe,Zn,Se in hypertension group were lower, and Se intake was higher in hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia groups. Furthermore, enough intake of Fe(odds ratio OR,0.41;95% confidence interval CI:0.19,0.87)and Se(OR,0.30;95% CI:0.14, 0.63)decreased the risk of hypertension,and high Cu(OR,2.35;95% CI:1.18,4.71)intake increased the risk of hyperglycemia.Among females,Zn intake in the MS group was lower than in the non-MS group;the intakes of Cu, Zn and Se in the hypertension group were lower; the intakes of Fe, Mn and Zn in the hyperglycemia group were lower as well;and Se intake was lower in the low HDL-C group.Again,the high intake of Zn (OR, 3.21; 95% CI: 1.36, 7.59) and Se (OR, 2.79; 95% CI: 1.24, 6.27) increased the risk of abdominal obesity, but moderate intake of Cu (OR, 0.37; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.72) had a protective effect on hypertension. Conclusions The percentages of inadequate microelement intake were relatively high in elderly people of Zhejiang province. There is a relationship between dietary microelements and MS or its components. It is necessary to guide elderly people to adopt reasonable diet by referring to the Chinese dietary reference intake and Dietay Guidelines in order to improve the situation of microelements intake and promote health.