Growth, body composition, and cardiovascular and nutritional risk of 5- to 10-y-old children consuming vegetarian, vegan, or omnivore diets (2021)

This is a cross-sectional study that analysed 187 Polish children:
63 vegetarian, 52 vegan and 72 omnivores.

RESULTS

Cardiovascular Health
Results showed that vegan children had a much more favourable cardiovascular status in comparison to vegetarians and omnivores. This included lower levels of unhealthy (LDL) cholesterol.

Vitamin B12
Optimum B12 concentrations in vegan children were reached with the combination of fortified foods and supplements.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D levels were lower in vegetarian and vegan children, but were resolved with supplementation.

Bone Mineral Content (BMC)
Vegan children had a lower BMC and this was proposed to be linked to the inadequate intake of: Vitamin B12, Vitamin D and Calcium.

Iron
Vegetarians and vegans, (who consume non-haem iron) on average had a lower iron status.

SUMMARY:
This study indicated that plant-based diets in children can provide favourable cardiovascular status, putting them at an advantage for avoiding cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Vegans had the highest and omnivores had the lowest estimated intake of total carbohydrates, starch, dietary fiber, polyunsaturated fat, folate, carotenoids, vitamin C, magnesium, and iron.

The importance of Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D supplementation in vegan children was highlighted (regardless of the consumption of fortified foods). This is as well as the significance of adequate calcium intake in this age group, to ensure optimum bone mineral content. In addition, vegan and vegetarian children who were consuming (the less bio-available) non-haem iron were at a higher risk of lower iron status. Vegan children were recorded to be significantly shorter than omnivores, however, these were still within healthy ranges.

With this in mind, it is crucial that plant-based children maximise their diets through adequate intake of: Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Calcium and Iron.

Click Here to read the full publication.

Energy, macronutrient intake, and anthropometrics of vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous children (1–3 Years) in Germany (VeChi Diet Study 2019)

This was a cross-sectional study assessing 430 German children aged 1-3years old, who were either omnivorous, vegetarian or vegan.

The following statement was included in the conclusion:

“In conclusion, our results indicate that a VG and VN diet in early childhood provides comparable amounts of energy and a macronutrient pattern in accordance with recommendations and can ensure normal growth, as there were no significant differences in proxy-reported anthropometrics compared to OM children of the same age.”

Click Here to read the full 2019 publication.

Nutrient intake and status of German children and adolescents consuming vegetarian, vegan or omnivore diets: Results of the VeChi Youth Study (2021)

This was a cross-sectional study assessing 401 German children aged between 6-18years old, who were either omnivorous, vegetarian or vegan.

The following statement was included in the conclusion:

“The results of the VeChi Youth Study confirms the position of several national nutrition or paediatric societies that a vegetarian, including a vegan, diet can meet the recommended nutrient requirements in childhood and adolescence.”

Click Here to read the full 2021 publication.

Growth of vegetarian children: The Farm Study

The Farm Study conducted an assessment of a collective community in Tennessee (US): who were self-sufficient, highly educated and generally well informed on nutrition. Soya was their main source of protein and they mainly supplemented with Vitamins A, D and B12.

404 vegetarian children were assessed,
aged between 4months and 10years old,
83% were vegan (with 73% being vegan from birth).

Most heights and weights recorded were between the 25th and 75th percentile (US growth reference). The average height and weight was slightly less than the general population, but was still within a healthy range.

The study concluded with the following:

“In summary, the growth of The Farm children even though modestly less than that of the reference population, showed no evidence of marked abnormality… According to the results of the study, with attention to weaning foods and nutrient intake, a group of children raised with a relatively strict vegetarian diet (vegan) can achieve adequate growth.”

Click Here to read the full publication.

Growth and development of British vegan children (1988)

Published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1988, this study included the following statement:

“The growth and development of children born of vegan mothers and reared on a vegan diet has been studied longitudinally: All of the children were breast-fed for the first 6 mo of life and in most cases well into the second year of life. The majority of children grew and developed normally but they did tend to be smaller in stature and lighter in weight than standards for the general population. Energy, calcium, and vitamin D intakes were usually below the recommended amounts. Their diets, however, were generally adequate but a few children had low intakes of riboflavin and vitamin B-12. Most parents were aware of the need to supplement the diet with vitamin B-12. It is concluded that provided sufficient care is taken, a vegan diet can support normal growth and development.”

Click Here to access the full publication.

Vegetarian diets in children: a systematic review

Published in The European Journal of Nutrition, this review looked at 24 publications from 16 observational studies between 1988-2013. Study samples covered age ranges between 0-18years old.

Due to various factors, the review was unable to firmly conclude on health benefits or risks of modern day vegetarian diets in industrialised countries. However, the following results were published:

Growth
Body height, body weight, or body mass index (BMI) for vegetarians was similar to non-vegetarians (controls) and were within normal reference values in most studies.

Macronutrients
Vegetarian children were within reference values and comparable to controls.

Micronutrients
Vegetarian children had higher intakes of folate and vitamin C, as well as lower intakes of calcium and vitamin B12.

Nutritional Status
Vegetarian children had more favourable blood lipid and antioxidant profiles. They also had a higher prevalence of low iron stores and iron deficiency. There was also a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among all groups (vegetarians and non-vegetarians).

Click Here to access the full publication.