Objective: To explore the dietary pattern and intake of nutrients of rural residents in Hanzhong of Shaanxi Province.
Methods: A cross-sectional on dietary pattern together with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was conducted among rural residents aged from 18 to 80 in Hanzhong of Shaanxi in 2010. Factor analysis was used to identify food patterns based on food frequency.
Results: 2958 rural residents were investigated with the average age as 50.0 years old and the average schooling--years were 6.8. Four main factors were derived through factors analysis, which were named as diversity pattern, vegetarian diet, alcohol pattern and economical pattern. Among all kinds of food under analysis, the daily intakes of grains, beans, oil, and salt of the residents were higher than average level of China's rural residents (P < 0.05) and higher than the daily reference intake except beans; meanwhile, animal food, dairy products, egg and fruits were lower (P < 0.01). Among all kinds of nutrients, the daily intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate, K, Na, Mg, Fe and Zn were lower than average level of China's rural residents (P < 0.01), Ca, fat and some Vitamins were higher. And only some nutrients such as fat, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Na, Fe and Mn reached or exceeded the RNI/AI (88.8% - 315.3%). Grains provided 50% of energy. 7.1% of energy and 11.4% of protein were from animal foods, which were lower the average level of China's rural residents. 58.9% of Fe was provided by grains.
Conclusion: Diet of rural residents in Hanzhong included the main food recommended by Chinese Dietary Guidelines, but the quantity of food was not balanced. Two aspects including under-nutrition and over-nutrition, should be considered to improve the nutrition condition, furthermore the elder women should ask for more attention.