Dietary Vitamin Intake Among Chinese Adults - 10 PLADs, China, 2022-2023.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: Previous surveillance data from 2015-2017 showed that Chinese adults aged 18 to 59 years had mean daily vitamin intakes of 406.8 μg retinol equivalent (RE) for vitamin A, 36.7 mg for vitamin E, 0.8 mg for vitamin B, 0.7 mg for vitamin B, 13.9 mg for niacin, and 75.5 mg for vitamin C.

WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: Recent findings from 10 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) reveal that Chinese adults in 2022-2023 had median daily vitamin intakes of 467.8 μg RE for vitamin A, 27.3 mg for vitamin E, 0.7 mg for vitamin B, 0.7 mg for vitamin B, 12.9 mg for niacin, and 51.2 mg for vitamin C. The prevalence of insufficient intake was notably high for vitamins B (84.2%), B (78.0%), C (76.4%), and A (52.6%). Notably, only 1.6% of adults met the proposed intakes preventing non-communicable chronic diseases threshold for vitamin C intake.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE?: There is an urgent need for targeted nutrition policies and interventions to address the widespread insufficient intake of vitamins A, B, B, and C among Chinese adults. Increased consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits is particularly recommended to improve vitamin C intake and reduce non-communicable chronic diseases.