A recent review in Nutrition Reviews examined the effects of vegan diets on children’s health, growth, and nutrition. The study found that vegan diets can support healthy development if they are carefully planned and include necessary supplements, especially for nutrients like iron, calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin D.
Plant-based diets are growing in popularity due to health, environmental, and ethical reasons. In adults, these diets are linked to lower risks of heart disease, obesity, and some cancers. However, research on vegan diets in children is limited, especially regarding long-term effects.
Vegan diets exclude all animal products, which can make it harder for children to get enough of certain nutrients. For example, vitamin B12 deficiency is a serious risk without supplementation and can cause neurological damage. Vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids are also nutrients that require attention. Fortified foods and supplements often help fill these gaps.
Some risks are linked to extreme vegan diets. For instance, a case of a one-year-old child hospitalized due to complications from a raw vegan diet highlights the dangers of poorly planned diets. Without proper planning, vegan diets can lead to nutritional deficiencies that affect growth and brain development.
Studies show that children on well-planned vegan diets generally grow normally, with similar height, weight, and body mass index compared to omnivorous peers. However, some have lower bone mineral content and density, likely due to lower calcium and vitamin D intake. Vegan children tend to have healthier cholesterol levels and lower body fat, which may reduce cardiovascular risk.
Despite these positive findings, most studies are small and cross-sectional, limiting conclusions about long-term health effects. More research is needed, especially on the impact of maternal vegan diets during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and on less-studied nutrients like riboflavin and selenium.
Experts recommend that parents and healthcare providers receive better guidance on managing vegan diets for children. Regular monitoring of growth and nutritional status through pediatric visits and blood tests is important. Multidisciplinary care involving dietitians and pediatricians can help ensure children on vegan diets get the nutrients they need.
In summary, vegan diets can be healthy for children if carefully planned and supplemented. However, the complexity of meeting all nutritional needs means parents should seek expert advice and support to avoid serious health risks.
