Objective: To perform zinc nutritional assessment of children aged 2- 5years in rural areas of China according to the joint recommendation by the WHO /UNICEF / IAEA / IZi NCG.
Methods: Based on the project of China Nutrition and Health Survey 2002( CNHS 2002), a stratified sampling combined with the probability proportional to population size sampling method was employed. The concentration of plasma zinc was determined by high resolution inductively coupled plasm mass spectrometry, and the data of dietary zinc intake and the physical examination was collected. The assessment of zinc nutrition was obtained by 3 aspects of indicators involving plasma zinc, dietary zinc intake and the development of growth.
Results: Plasma zinc concentration was 714. 9 μg / L, and 45. 5% of children with zinc deficiency. Dietary zinc intake was 5. 9 mg / d, and the prevalence of inadequate dietary zinc intake was 18. 1%. The height for age Z score was- 0. 8, with 18. 2% of children who were stunted.
Conclusion: Zinc nutritional status of children aged 2- 5 years in rural areas is poor in the CNHS 2002. The status of plasma zinc is utmost serious in comparison withother indicators. The status of zinc nutrition in children aged 2- 5 years from the 4th rural areas is required to be continuous attention. Zinc nutrional assessment provides an extremely useful information and technical reference for early childhood.
Keywords: Z score; children; dietary zinc intake; plasma zinc concentration; zinc nutrition.