Nutrition transition and chronic diseases in China (1990-2019): industrially processed and animal calories rather than nutrients and total calories as potential determinants of the health impact
Abstract Objective: To extend analyses of nutrition transition in developed countries to China within the framework of the 3Vs rule considering degree of processing starting with industrially processed foods (IPFs, Rule 1), plant/animal calorie ratio (Rule 2), and food diversity through nutrient intakes (Rule 3). Design: Total and main food group (n = 13) calorie intakes, percentages of animal and IPF calories, adequacy of the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) and prevalence of chronic diseases were retrieved from scientific literature and international databases. Setting: China, 1990-2019 Participants: Overall population Results: The total calorie intake decreased by 9% over thirty years while the prevalence of chronic diseases substantially increased. Percentages of IPFs (Rule 1) and animal (Rule 2) calorie intake shifted from 9 to 30% and 2 to 30%, respectively. Meanwhile, the overall DRI adequacy (Rule 3) did not improve, with calcium and retinol deficiencies in 2019, and, although remaining above DRI, iron, copper, magnesium, and vitamins E, C and B1-B9 intakes regularly decreased. Notably, the prevalence of obesity increased five-fold, paralleling the exponential increase in IPF calorie intake. Both sources of calories were highly correlated with prevalence of main chronic diseases. Conclusions: Despite a slight decreased of total calorie consumption and rather good compliance with DRI, the farther the Chinese population moved away from the 3Vs rule during the 1990-2019 period, the more the prevalence of chronic diseases increased. Further analyses on foods’ transitions will be better assessed when advocating sources/quality of calories (Rules 1/2), rather than only nutrient composition (Rule 3).