[Dietary status of lactating women from five cities of China in 2015-2016]

To learn the dietary and nutrients intake of lactating women in five cities in China.

From April 2015 to April 2016, about 579 lactating women whose infants aged 1-24 months from five cities of Nanjing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Qiqihar, and Zhengzhou were recruited based on the principle of random sampling in maternity and child health care hospitals. We collected the characteristics of baseline information and 3 d dietary assessment with instant photography.

For all the lactating women of these cities, the intakes of tubers[0(0-13. 3)]g, vegetables[251. 8(152. 6-362. 5)]g, soybeans[4. 8(0-16. 3)]g and dairy products [85. 7(0-250. 0)]g were far below the intakes recommended by dietary guidelines for Chinese residents. The components of lactating women's diet were different among cities except tubers(χ~2=4. 61, P=0. 33) and fruits(χ~2=5. 69, P=0. 22), and the difference was statistically significant(P<0. 05). The proportion of energy provided in carbohydrate and fat was 47. 7% and 34. 2%, respectively. Among the 5 cities, only energy contribution ratio of Nanjing and Zhengzhou were up to 50%, which met the acceptable macronutrient distribution range(AMDR) of carbohydrate. According the dietary reference intakes(DRIs), the energy intake(2031. 7±513. 3) kcal was slightly lower than estimated energy requirement(EER). The deficiency of VA[523. 9(333. 8-832. 7)] μgRAE, VC[91. 9(61. 3-141. 3)] mg and calcium[536. 3(372. 0-765. 7)]mg was obvious. Although the amount of dietary iron intake was closed to the recommended level, the heme iron intake only accounted 16. 5%.

The major problems of these lactating women are imbalanced diet and insufficient intakes of some nutrients among different cities.