[Secular trends in main food intakes among Chinese adult residents from 1982 to 2015].

Objective: To analyze the trends in main food intakes among Chinese residents aged 18-44 years from 1982 to 2015.

Methods: The data were obtained from the Nutrition and Health Survey/Monitoring database of Chinese residents from 1982 to 2015. The food weighing method combined with the bookkeeping method was used in the 1982 dietary survey, while the collection of food intake information was collected by 24-hour dietary review method and spice weighing method for 3 consecutive days in the 1992-2015 dietary survey. Food items were categorized based on the Chinese food composition table, and the consumption of different foods was computed.

Results: From 1982 to 2015, the daily consumption of cereals, tubers, whole grains and miscellaneous beans, fresh vegetables, and cooking salt among Chinese residents aged 18 to 44 exhibited a decreasing trend(P_(trend) <0.0001), with cereals experiencing the higher rate of decline followed by cooking salt and fresh vegetables. Conversely, the daily intake of fresh fruits, nuts, beans, meat and poultry, fish and shrimp, eggs, milk, and cooking oil showed a increasing trend(P_(trend) <0.0001), with cooking oil, meat and poultry as well as eggs demonstrating the higher rates of increase followed by fish and shrimp and fresh fruit also experienced notable increases. No significant changes were observed in tubers or whole grains and miscellaneous beans or nuts or beans or milk. In urban areas specifically, there was an increasing trend observed in the consumption of tubers, whole grains and miscellaneous beans, fresh fruits and fish and shrimp; however, a decreasing trend was noticed for beans with insignificant changes in amplitude; trends for other food items aligned with those observed in the general population(P_(trend) <0.0001). Among rural residents, the consumption of whole grains and miscellaneous beans significantly decreased, trends for other food items mirrored those seen in the general population(P_(trend)<0.0001). The daily intake of fresh fruit remained unchanged among male residents but increased significantly among female residents; trends for other food items were consistent with those observed in the general population(P_(trend) <0.0001).

Conclusion: From 1982 to 2015, the daily consumption of cereals, tubers, whole grains and miscellaneous beans, fresh vegetables, and cooking salt among Chinese residents aged 18 to 44 exhibited a decreasing trend, while the daily intake of fresh fruits, nuts, beans, meat and poultry, fish and shrimp, eggs and cooking oil showed a increasing trend. Urban areas and female residents displayed more rational food choices.