In this study, we assessed the hemoglobin levels and anemia status of Chinese children and adolescents from the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNNHS) in 2010–2012 and analyzed the factors associated with anemia. The hemoglobin concentration and prevalence of anemia for children and adolescents aged 6–17 years from both CNNHS 2010–2012 and CNNHS 2002 were analyzed. Multi-variable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the factors associated with anemia. The mean hemoglobin concentration increased among Chinese children and adolescents, from 135.2 ± 13.9g/L in CNNHS 2002 to 141.2 ± 15.8 g/L in CNNHS 2010–2012, with the prevalence of anemia decreasing from 12.6% to 6.6% (p < 0.0001). Anemia was specifically related to girls (p < 0.0001); children aged 6–8 years (p = 0.0175), 12–14 years (p = 0.0007), and 15–17 years (p < 0.0001); ordinary rural areas (p = 0.0009) and poor rural areas (p < 0.0001);spring (p < 0.0001), autumn (p < 0.0001), and winter (p < 0.0001);underweight individuals (p < 0.0001); and an annual average income per capita of less than 20,000 RMB (p < 0.0001).The prevalence of anemia in Chinese children and adolescents has improved significantly in comparison to 10 years prior; however, it remains a public health problem in this population. Further research is required to understand the determinants of iron status, which could then lead to strategies to alleviate iron deficiency for Chinese children and adolescents, especially for girls, those living in rural areas, underweight individuals, and those with a low family income.

Optimal vitamin D (vitD) status is beneficial for both pregnant women and their newborns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vitamin D status of Chinese pregnant women in the latest China Nutrition and Health Surveillance (CNHS) 2015–2017, analyze the risk factors of vitamin D deficiency (VDD), and compare them with those in CNHS 2010–2012. Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured by ELISA method. City type, district, latitude, location, age, vitamin D supplements intake, education, marital status, annual family income, etc., were recorded. The median 25(OH)D concentration was 13.02 (10.17–17.01) ng/mL in 2015–2017, and 15.48 (11.89–20.09) ng/mL in 2010–2012. The vitamin D sufficient rate was only 12.57% in 2015–2017, comparing to 25.17% in 2010–2012. The risk factors of vitamin D inadequacy (25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL) in 2015–2017 were not exactly consistent with that in 2010–2012. The risk factors included season of spring (p < 0.0001) and winter (p < 0.001), subtropical (p < 0.001), median (p < 0.0001) and warm temperate zones (p < 0.0001), the western (p = 0.027) and the central areas (p = 0.041), while vitD supplements intake (p = 0.021) was a protective factor in pregnant women. In conclusion, vitD inadequacy is very common among Chinese pregnant women. We encourage pregnant women to take more effective sunlight and proper vitD supplements, especially for those from the subtropical, warm and medium temperate zones, the western and the central, and in the seasons of spring and winter.

Anemia is a public health issue for developing countries, especially for women of childbearing age. The aim of this study was to assess the anemia status and analyze the risk factors for anemia in Chinese childbearing women aged 18–49 years. Hemoglobin concentration was measured by the HiCN method in the Fifth Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNNHS) in 2010–2012. Age, region type, ethnicity, bodyweight, height, education, season and smoke habit were recorded in unified questionnaires. Latitude was divided by China’s Qinling Mountains and Huaihe River. Childbearing women (28,289) from the CNNHS 2010–2012 were included in this study. The median hemoglobin concentration was 136.2(126.6–145.0) g/L, and it was significantly higher than in CNNHS 2002 (132.5 (122.3–141.6) g/L). The prevalence of anemia was 15.0%, and it was significantly lower than 10 years ago. The logistic regression analysis showed anemia in Chinese childbearing women was specifically related to 30–39 age group (P = 0.004), in spring (P < 0.0001) or in winter (P = 0.006), small and medium-sized cities (P = 0.044) and middle school education level (P = 0.027). The results showed that anemia status among childbearing women was greatly improved over 10 years since 2002, but it was still more severe than the rest of the populations. The nutrition propaganda and education is recommended for childbearing women to help them to improve the nutritional status on their own.

This study aimed to develop a predictive equation for basal metabolic rate (BMR) in normal-weight Chinese adults and provide a reference for establishing the national recommended dietary energy intake. A new equation for BMR was derived from a sample of 516 normal-weight Chinese adults (men = 253, women = 263), and this sample was collected from two previous studies. Furthermore, the accuracy of this new equation and eight other previous predictive equations was reviewed. The agreement and reliability were compared in terms of bias, accuracy, the intraclass correlation coefficient, and Bland–Altman plots between predictive equations. In addition, the newly developed equation was further verified using a small independent sample, which contained 41 healthy Chinese adults (men = 21, women = 20). The measured BMR (mBMR) of all participants, measured using indirect calorimetry, was 1346.2 ± 358.0 kcal/d. Thirty participants were excluded based on Cook’s distance criteria (Cook’s distance of ≥0.008). Previous equations developed by Henry, Schofield, Harris–Benedict (H-B), Yang, and Hong overestimated the BMR of healthy Chinese adults. The present equation displayed the smallest average bias (0.2 kcal/d) between the mBMR and predicted basal metabolic rate (pBMR). The limits of agreement of the present equation from Bland–Altman plots were −514.3 kcal/d and 513.9 kcal/d, which is the most narrow and balanced limit of agreement. Moreover, in the verification of the testing database, the pBMR of the new equation was not significantly different from the mBMR, and the accuracy was 75.6%. Compared with pre-existing equations, the present equation is more applicable to the prediction of BMR in healthy Chinese adults. However, further studies are required to verify the accuracy of this new equation.

Background: Magnesium and calcium play a variety of biological roles in body functions. Reference values of these elements have not yet been systematically determined in China, especially in childbearing women. We proposed to establish the reference range of Mg, Ca, and Ca/Mg ratio in plasma and whole blood for 18–44 years healthy childbearing women in China. Method: A total of 1921 women of childbearing age (18–44 years) were randomly selected from the 2015 China National Nutrition and Health Survey by taking into account the regional types and monitoring points. Among them, 182 healthy women were screened out with a series strict inclusion criteria to study the reference ranges of elements. Fundamental indicators (weight, height, waist, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, fast glucose, HbA1c, blood pressure, uric acid) and elements concentrations in plasma and whole blood were collected. The 2.5th to 97.5th was used to represent the reference range of Mg, Ca, and Ca/Mg ratio. Results: The reference range of Mg, Ca, and Ca/Mg ratio in plasma were 0.75–1.13 mmol/L, 2.27–3.43 mmol/L, and 2.41–3.44, respectively. Additionally, the reference range of Mg, Ca, and Ca/Mg ratio in whole blood were 1.28–1.83 mmol/L, 1.39–2.26 mmol/L, and 0.90–1.66, respectively. According to the established reference range, the prevalence of magnesium deficiency was 4.79% in 1921 childbearing women, 21.05% in type 2 diabetes, and 5.63% in prediabetes. Conclusion: The reference values of Mg, Ca and Ca/Mg proportion in plasma and entire blood of healthy childbearing women can be utilized as a pointer to assess the status of component lack and over-burden. The lower limit of plasma Mg is in good agreement with the recommended criteria for the determination of hypomagnesemia.

Objectives: To analyze the serum zinc nutrition status of the Chinese elderly, and to assess the risk factor for zinc deficiency. Methods: 3727 elderly people over 60 years old were randomly selected from 302 monitoring points in 31 provinces of China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance (CACDNS) 2015. Blood samples were selected from the biological sample bank of CACDNS 2015 and the basic information were collected by questionnaires. The criteria of serum zinc deficiency recommended by the International Zinc Nutrition Consulting Group (IZiNCG) were adopted, and the related factors were also analyzed. Results: The median serum zinc concentration of Chinese elderly was 99.2 (84.3~118.7) μg/dL. The overall adjusted prevalence of zinc deficiency was 8.68%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 7.74% and 9.61%. Significant differences were found in different sex, age groups, Body Mass Index (BMI), residence region, race and education level in terms of serum zinc status in the elderly (p < 0.05). Participants who are males, aged above 70y, with BMIs of less than 18.5 kg/m², living in rural areas, minority, and with the lowest income had a higher prevalence of zinc deficiency in the subgroups under different classifications. The risk of zinc deficiency in the elderly over 70y was 1.44 higher than those aged 60–69y (OR = 1.44, 95%CI 1.14–1.82), and the minority elderly has a 1.39 higher risk than Han nationality (OR = 1.39, 95%CI 1.01–1.91), while overweight/obesity and female elderly were at lower risk (OR < 1, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The overall prevalence of zinc deficiency in the elderly was highest in all adults in the CACDNS. It is recommended that the male elderly, over 70 years, and the minority elderly should pay more attention to the zinc nutrition status of their own.