What nutrients are children on vegan diets often missing?

Children on vegan diets may be low in essential nutrients like vitamin B12, calcium, iodine, and zinc.

Are vegetarian diets bad for children's heart health?

No, the study found vegetarian and vegan children generally had better heart health, with lower cholesterol levels.

How can parents ensure children get enough nutrients on a plant-based diet?

Parents should focus on including nutrient-rich plant foods like lentils, pumpkin seeds, cashews, seaweed, and shiitake mushrooms, and consider supplementation or fortified foods for nutrients like B12.

Home / Health / Study: Plant Diets May Shortchange Kids' Nutrients

Study: Plant Diets May Shortchange Kids' Nutrients

14 Dec

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Summary

Vegetarian children consumed less calories, protein, fat, zinc, and vitamin B12.
Vegan children were especially low in bone-strengthening calcium.
Plant-based diets offered heart health benefits and higher fiber intake.

Study: Plant Diets May Shortchange Kids' Nutrients

A large-scale study involving 48,000 children and adolescents has raised concerns about potential nutrient deficiencies in young vegans and vegetarians. Researchers found that children following plant-based diets often consumed lower amounts of essential nutrients like calories, protein, fat, zinc, and vitamin B12 compared to their omnivore peers.

Vegan children were particularly noted to have inadequate intake of calcium, vital for bone strength. While vitamin B12 often requires supplementation or fortified foods, calcium, iodine, and zinc also frequently fell at the lower end of recommended levels. This underscores the need for careful nutritional planning for children on these diets.

However, the study also acknowledged significant benefits of plant-based eating, including improved cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol, and higher intake of fiber, iron, folate, and vitamin C. Children on these diets also tended to be shorter with a lower body mass index, reducing risks of obesity and diabetes.