This study investigated the nutrition and complementary feeding (CF) of infants and young children (IYC) aged 6–23 months in rural areas of China in 2018 and explored the relationship between CF and nutritional status. We measured the length and weight, calculated the z-scores, and detected micronutrients in the hair. The status of CF was obtained from the respondents by a 24-h dietary recall. IYC were classified into clusters using a two-step cluster analysis. The CF and nutritional status of each cluster were analyzed and compared. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and overweight in the IYC in rural Chinese areas was 7.1%, 3.0%, and 3.7%, respectively. The median levels of Ca, Fe, and Zn in hair were 550.10 µg/g, 62.94 µg/g, and 132.86 µg/g, respectively. The prevalence of meeting the requirements of minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) was 68.9%, 77.9%, and 46.4%, respectively. IYC with a higher prevalence of MDD, MMF, and MAD were more inclined to maintain a healthy status. The prevalence of undernutrition and overweight of 6- to 23-month-old IYC in rural areas of China was low. However, lack of trace elements was evident, and MAD prevalence remained low.

Ying Yang Bao (YYB) is conventionally prescribed as a nutritional supplement to infants and young children (IYC) in less developed areas of China. However, whether 18-month YYB consumption is reasonable needs assessment. This study examined the influence of the duration of YYB consumption on hemoglobin (Hb) levels and anemia prevalence. Data from the Nutrition Improvement Project on Children in Poor Areas of China in 2018–2019 were used. Questionnaires were used to collect information on basic characteristics, dietary status, and YYB consumption. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance confounders. Hb levels and anemia prevalence in IYC with different durations of YYB consumption were compared. After PSM, all covariates were well-balanced, and 1151 pairs of IYC were included in subsequent analyses. During the 1st–9th months of intervention, YYB effectively increased Hb levels and reduced anemia prevalence in the intervention group. During the 10th–18th months of intervention, Hb levels in the control group increased and anemia prevalence decreased, while Hb levels and anemia prevalence fluctuated in the intervention group. In conclusion, YYB was effective in improving nutritional status of infants, but had a limited effect in young children. Nutritional supplements with different quantities or nutrients should be considered for young children.