Background The health problems of an aging population have raised social concerns. A balanced diet and reasonable nutrient intakes are critical to the improvement of senior lives, especially micronutrient intakes.
Objective This study aims to analyze the secular trends of micronutrient intakes of the residents aged 60 years and older in nine provinces (autonomous regions) of China, and provide scientific data for dietary recommendations and formulation of policies to prevent chronic diseases for the elderly.
Methods The longitudinal data of nine follow-up visits of China Health and Nutrition Surveys from 1991 to 2015 were used. By multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method, urban communities, county towns, suburban villages, and rural villages were primary sampling units; in each unit, 20 households were randomly selected and all household members were interviewed. Dietary intakes were collected by 3-day 24-hour dietary recall, and edible oil and condiment intakes were collected by weighing method. Food consumption was converted into energy and various micronutrient intakes by an established food composition table. In this study, the participants aged 60 years or above in nine provinces (autonomous regions) were selected as the study subjects. After excluding those with missing demographic and dietary data or with abnormal energy intakes, a total of 19 116 subjects were included in the study.
Results In 2015, the average age-standardized intakes of retinol, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin C, and vitamin E were 637.65 μg/d (in retinol activity equivalent) and 0.78, 0.70, 74.53, and 29.08 mg/d, respectively. Thiamine intake decreased slightly from 1991 to 2015. The intakes of riboflavin and vitamin C (Ps < 0.001) were higher in the high-income elderly. Vitamin E intake increased since 1997, but recovered to 2006 level in 2015. The intakes of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium in 2015 were 339.06, 832.29, 4 741.00, and 1 423.45 mg/d, respectively. The intakes of iron, zinc, copper, and selenium (Ps < 0.001) in the high-income group were higher than those in the low-and middle-income groups, and the intake of selenium in urban areas was higher than that in rural areas (Ps < 0.001); the intakes of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and copper decreased over the years. The proportions of the elderly whose intakes of retinol, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin C, and calcium were less than the corresponding estimated average requirements ranged from 59.04% to 98.21% of total subjects. The participants with insufficient intakes of retinol, thiamine, and vitamin C were on the rise, and those with insufficient calcium intake accounted for at least 94.61% of total subjects.
Conclusion The elderly in nine provinces (autonomous regions) of China are deficient in water-soluble vitamins and calcium, which may be caused by insufficient intakes of vegetables and milk and dairy products. Suggestions for the elderly include:diverse foods, foods rich in calcium such as dairy products, aquatic products, and soy products, and micronutrient supplements as appropriate.
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