Is vegan diet advisable for children? (original) (raw)

Is vegan feeding advisable in first childhood?

OA Journal of Food and Nutrition, 2019

Objective: To analyse if it is possible to correctly feed children with a vegan diet from birth. Method: A two stages bibliographic search was conducted. The first one was in Google Academic Search, using the information obtained for the introduction. The second one in the Health Science Database PubMed, Cinhal and Scopus where 26 publications were chosen. Results: The principal nutrient deficiencies that can be developed in vegan children were identified. Aferwards the growth curve of both vegan and omnivore children has been compared. In addition, we have clarified the nurses’ knowledge about people’s vegan nutritional requirements from birth. Finally, the benefits of following a vegan diet have been established. Discussion and conclusions: well-planned vegan diets allow an adequate development of children from birth. The only compulsory nutrient supplementation is vitamin B12. The healthcare professionals have an important role since they have to give the guidelines to introduce ...

Vegetarian Diets and Children

Pediatric Clinics of North America, 1995

A vegetarian diet, if properly selected, can meet all of the requirements of the growing child; yet many health professionals remain concerned about the adequacy of vegetarian diets. This article reviews the nutritional adequacy of vegan and vegetarian diets, identifies under what conditions nutritional deficiencies can arise, and compares the growth and development of children reared on vegetarian diets with those in the general population. It also considers some new developments in essential fatty acid nutrition. A vegetarian is usually defined as someone who does not eat animal flesh (i.e., meat, poultry, and fish) but who includes eggs and dairy products in his or her diet. Usually the first stage in becoming a vegetarian is to cease consumption of red meat, which is followed by the exclusion of poultry and fish. Many vegetarians aspire to being pure vegetarians, or vegans, who exclude all food of animal origin. Veganism is a way of life that avoids the exploitation of animals. Besides avoiding food of animal origin, vegans also do not use products that have been derived from animals, such as leather and wool. Fruitarians restrict their diet to raw fruits, nuts, and berries because they believe that these were the natural diet of man. Macrobiotic diets, which originate from the teachings of George Ohsawa,31 consist of relatively large amounts of brown rice, accompanied by smaller amounts of fruits, vegetables, and legumes; processed foods and Solanaceae species (i.e., tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes) are avoided. Meat and fish are permitted if they are hunted or wild. In practice, however, most macrobiotic diets are vegetarian and contain only small amounts of milk products, if any.

Vegetarian diet in children and adolescents: A health benefit?

Vegetarians exclude all meat from their diet. Most vegetarians eat eggs and dairy products, and are called ‘‘ovo-lacto-vegetarians’’ whereas vegans do not eat or use any animal products. Flexitarians exclude processed meat, and eat small amounts of red meat and moderate amounts of other animal-source foods. This article focuses on vegetarian diets in industrialized countries and does not address vegan or flexitarian diets in children.

Vegan diet in young children remodels metabolism and challenges the statuses of essential nutrients

EMBO Molecular Medicine, 2021

Vegan diets are gaining popularity, also in families with young children. However, the effects of strict plant-based diets on metabolism and micronutrient status of children are unknown. We recruited 40 Finnish children with a median age 3.5 yearsvegans, vegetarians, or omnivores from same daycare centersfor a cross-sectional study. They enjoyed nutritionist-planned vegan or omnivore meals in daycare, and the full diets were analyzed with questionnaires and food records. Detailed analysis of serum metabolomics and biomarkers indicated vitamin A insufficiency and borderline sufficient vitamin D in all vegan participants. Their serum total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, essential amino acid, and docosahexaenoic n-3 fatty acid (DHA) levels were markedly low and primary bile acid biosynthesis, and phospholipid balance was distinct from omnivores. Possible combination of low vitamin A and DHA status raise concern for their visual health. Our evidence indicates that (i) vitamin A and D status of vegan children requires special attention; (ii) dietary recommendations for children cannot be extrapolated from adult vegan studies; and (iii) longitudinal studies on infant-onset vegan diets are warranted.

Health aspects of vegan diets among children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analyses

Health effects of vegan diets among children are a controversial public health topic. Thus, we evaluated a broad range of health outcomes among vegan children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years by a systematic review and meta-analyses. 17 studies met the inclusion criteria (16 cross-sectional studies, one randomized trial). Meta-analyzes showed lower intakes of protein (%E MD[95%CI]: −3.54 [−5.08, −2.00]) and higher intakes of fiber (g/1000kcal MD[95%CI]: 8.01 [6.96, 9.06]) in vegans compared to omnivores. Non-meta-analyzable studies showed lower calorie, vitamin B12 (when not using supplements) and selenium intakes, as well as lower blood levels of ferritin and vitamin B12. By contrast, vegans had significantly higher intakes of folate, vitamin C and iron. Levels of several cardiometabolic biomarkers (cholesterol, LDL) and indicators of bone health (vitamin D and calcium intake, vitamin D blood levels, bone mineral density) were lower in vegans. Risk of Bias was rated as high or ve...

Recommendations on vegetarian diet in infants and children

Anales de Pediatría (English Edition), 2018

There are an increasing number of subjects following a vegetarian diet, including children and adolescents. Most families follow this because of ecological or ethical reasons. Those diets, if well-planned, may be adequate in every life stage, including younger ages. Nevertheless, an adequate intake of all nutrients should be guaranteed, especially in more restricted diets (vegans). The Committee on Nutrition has decided to publish some guidelines for paediatricians who care for children following a vegetarian diet. In this paper more common foods used by vegetarians are reviewed, as well as those nutrients that need a special attention (iron, zinc, calcium, iodine, vitamin D, vitamin B 12 , and n-3 fatty acids). It is essential to provide supplemental B 12 in all vegetarian subjects, including infants. Children on a balanced vegetarian diet, who are growing normally, do not require any specific health controls. Nevertheless, paediatricians should closely follow-up that every nutritional need is covered through all ages.

Vegetarian diets in childhood and adolescence

Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics, 2019

In Western countries, vegetarian diets are associated with lower intakes of energy, saturated fatty acids and animal protein and higher intakes of fibre and phytochemicals, compared to omnivorous diets. Whether the corresponding health benefits in vegetarians outweigh the risks of nutrient deficiencies has not been fully clarified. It should be noted that vegetarians often have a higher socioeconomic status, follow a more health-conscious lifestyle with higher physical activity, and refrain from smoking more often than non-vegetarians. The nutritional needs of growing children and adolescents can generally be met through a balanced, vegetable-based diet; however, due to their higher nutrient requirements per kilogramme of body weight, vegetarian children have a higher risk for developing nutrient deficiencies than adults. With a vegetarian diet, the mean intakes of some nutrients, such as the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are lower than in omnivores or those eating ...

Vegan Nutrition for Mothers and Children: Practical Tools for Healthcare Providers

Nutrients, 2018

As the number of subjects choosing vegan diets increases, healthcare providers must be prepared to give the best advice to vegan patients during all stages of life. A completely plant-based diet is suitable during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, and childhood, provided that it is well-planned. Balanced vegan diets meet energy requirements on a wide variety of plant foods and pay attention to some nutrients that may be critical, such as protein, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. This paper contains recommendations made by a panel of experts from the Scientific Society for Vegetarian Nutrition (SSNV) after examining the available literature concerning vegan diets during pregnancy, breastfeeding, infancy, and childhood. All healthcare professionals should follow an approach based on the available evidence in regard to the issue of vegan diets, as failing to do so may compromise the nutritional status of vegan patients in these delicate periods of life.

Veganism and Children: Physical and Social Well-Being

Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 2019

I claim that there is pro tanto moral reason for parents to not raise their child on a vegan diet because a vegan diet bears a risk of harm to both the physical and the social well-being of children. After giving the empirical evidence from nutrition science and sociology that supports this claim, I turn to the question of how vegan parents should take this moral reason into account. Since many different moral frameworks have been used to argue for veganism, this is a complex question. I suggest that, on some of these moral frameworks, the moral reason that some parents have for not raising their child on a vegan diet on account of this risk is plausibly as strong as the reason they have for raising their child on a vegan diet. In other words, the moral reason I outline is weighty enough to justify some vegan parents in plausibly finding it permissible to not raise their child on a vegan diet.