Objective: To study the relationship between milk intake of 3 - 6 years old preschool children and their growth.
Methods: The data bank of 2002 China National and Health Survey were used to analyze the relationship of milk consumption and the growth of children aged 3 - 6 in urban and rural areas.
Results: The percentages of the diet with milk in urban and rural areas were 46.9% and 8.2% respectively, there was significant difference between the urban and rural areas. The averaged milk intake of preschool children were 23.8 g/d, the milk intake of urban children was significantly higher than that in the rural areas (P < 0.01). The height and weight of children with milk or its products in their diets in the group aged 4, 5 and 6 years were significantly higher than those of children without milk or its products in their diets (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: There was close relationship between milk intake of children 3 - 6 years old and their growth, the volume of milk intake of preschool children should be improved in urban and rural areas.