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Nutrient status and growth in vegan children.

Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)
July 1, 2021
Daniel Olivier Sutter et al. (2 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to assess the impact of calcium intake on growth and nutrient status in vegan children.

Results Summary

The study found that deficiencies in calcium are a significant risk in poorly planned vegan diets, but with proper supplementation and planning, vegan children can obtain adequate calcium for normal growth.

Population

Vegan children

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
vegan diet
no change
growth
vegan children
-
showed normal growth
#1
vegan diet
decrease
obesity
vegan children
-
were less often
#2
vegan diet
no change
nutrient intake
children on a vegan diet
-
can obtain all the examined nutrients
#3
poorly planned vegan diet
decrease
cobalamin, calcium, and vitamin D status
vegan children
-
deficiencies
#4
well-planned vegan diet using supplementation
no change
critical nutrients
children
-
is likely to provide the recommended amounts
#5
well-planned vegan diet using supplementation
no change
height and weight
children
-
provide for normal progression
#6
vegan diet
increase
health
children
-
can be beneficial in some aspects
#7
Abstract

Vegan diets have risen in popularity over the past 9 years. However, few studies have examined nutrient status and the effect of a vegan diet on the growth of children. This study analysed the existing literature on the health impact and growth impact of selected nutrients in vegan children. We assessed the intake of calories and protein, as well as the nutrients iron, calcium, vitamin D, cobalamin and folate. With a small percentage of outliers, vegan children showed normal growth and were less often obese. We found limited evidence that children on a vegan diet can obtain all the examined nutrients. Furthermore, as proper planning and supplementation by caregivers is needed, it is currently unknown how often vegan children follow well-planned diets. Deficiencies in cobalamin, calcium, and vitamin D seem to be the biggest risks associated with a poorly planned vegan diet. For a more definitive assessment, data on the intake and nutrient status of omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iodine, and selenium in vegan children are needed. Future research should account for demographic shifts in those following a vegan diet, and should discriminate between vegan sub-populations that are open or closed towards scientific approaches, towards health in general, and toward supplementation. Studies should assess the modes and dosages of supplementation and the use of fortified foods or drinks, as well as adherence to the diet itself. Plant ferritin as a source of iron and endogenous cobalamin synthesis warrants further scientific inquiry. In summary, the current literature suggests that a well-planned vegan diet using supplementation is likely to provide the recommended amounts of critical nutrients to provide for normal progression of height and weight in children, and can be beneficial in some aspects. However, data on 5 critical nutrients are still missing, hampering a more definitive conclusion.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Body HeightBody WeightChildChild HealthChild Nutrition DisordersChild, PreschoolDeficiency DiseasesDiet, VeganDietary SupplementsFatty Acids, Omega-3Food, FortifiedHumansMicronutrientsNutrientsNutritional RequirementsNutritional StatusVegans
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations33
Citations/Year8.3
Relative Citation Ratio3.96
NIH Percentile90%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score2.49
Normalized Score0.60
Related Supplements
Nutrient status and growth in vegan children. | Panacea Index