A survey on consumption of nine pilot edible and medicinal substances among individuals aged 18 and above in 19 cities in Guangdong Province

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aims to conducting a survey on the consumption of nine pilot edible and medicinal substances including Codonopsis pilosula and etc.， and provides a basis for supplementing the database of food safety assessment.MethodsNineteen cities in Guangdong Province were selected as sample sites from 2019 to 2021. Healthy individuals aged 18 years and above who had the habit of eating traditional local food such as soup ingredients were selected as candidate subjects. A food frequency questionnaire was applied for collecting information on the consumption of the nine pilot edible and medicinal substances over the past 12 months.ResultsThis study enrolled a total of 6 233 participants， with 49.2% male and 50.8% female. Among the study population， the consumption rates of the nine pilot edible and and medicinal substances ranged from 0.8% to 55.3%， The consumption rates from high to low are as follows： Codonopsis pilosula（Franch.）Nannf.（55.3%）， Astragalus membranaceus （Fisch.） Bge.var.mongholicus （Bge.） Hsiao （47.4%）， Panax quinquefolium L. （41.5%）， Ganoderma lucidum （Leyss. Ex Fr.）Karst. （dry） （30%）， Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo （24.1%）， Gastrodia elata B1. （16%）， Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo （wet） （4.8%）， Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma （2.6%）， Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. （1.3%）， Cornus officinalis Sieb.et Zucc. （0.8%）. Among the consumer population， the primary mode of consumption for the nine pilot edible and medicinal substances is indirect， accounting for 82.6% to 95.1%. The average monthly consumption frequency ranges from 0.8 to 2.2 times per month. The mean consumption quantity per occasion for the selected dried food-medicinal substances ranges from 7.4 to 11.9 grams， However， the mean consumption quantity per occasion for Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo （wet） is 41.9 grams.ConclusionThere are significant differences in the consumption rates of the nine pilot edible and medicinal substances among adults in the 19 municipalities of Guangdong province. The consumption quantity per occasion is high in some substances such as Codonopsis pilosula（Franch.）Nannf.， Astragalus membranaceus （Fisch.） Bge.var.mongholicus （Bge.） Hsiao. It is recommended to further scientifically evaluate the usage and dosage of these food-medicinal substances and make public education on the correct consumption of food for residents.

Keywords

• guangdong province
• pilot edible and medicinal substances
• local specialty foods
• population survey
• consumption quantity survey