Does a vegetarian diet cause stunted growth in children?
New analysis published
Created: 05/19/2022, 17:12
By: Juliane Gutmann
No extra sausage for children: Canadian researchers have now determined whether a vegetarian diet is harmful.
© Thomas Trutschel/Imago
Raising children without sausage and meat: Is it a good idea or does it increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies?
A team of researchers has addressed this question.
A common myth: those who eat vegetarian food are more likely to suffer from nutrient deficiencies.
In fact, an unbalanced diet can lead to an undersupply of magnesium, potassium or other important substances - but this also applies to meat eaters.
Anyone who eats sausage and steak but strictly bans other food groups such as dairy products or vegetables from the plate increases their risk of deficiency symptoms.
The same applies to vegetarians who eat too one-sidedly.
In general, the following applies:
the more balanced you eat, the better
.
Anyone who banishes meat and sausages from the menu or eats them only rarely is actually doing something good for themselves and their health, as various studies on vegetarian nutrition suggest.
Those who eat a vegetarian diet usually eat dairy products and eggs as a source of protein in addition to vegetables and fruit.
What many do not know:
tofu, seitan and beans are also very good sources of protein
.
Iron deficiency is also sometimes a concern when it comes to vegetarian nutrition.
However, this is unfounded if someone frequently uses plant-based iron suppliers.
These include oatmeal, pumpkin seeds, sesame and whole grain products.
But what if parents
feed their children vegetarian
?
Can the rumor be true that the purely plant-based diet negatively affects their growth?
Nutrition survey
Children who are vegetarian are more likely to be underweight
A team led by Jonathon Maguire from St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto evaluated the effects of a vegetarian diet on children's development as part of a study.
As the medical journal informs, the data of children between the ages of six months and eight years were analyzed for this purpose.
A total of 8,907 children participated, including 248 vegetarians and 25 vegans at baseline.
The study participants were examined by paediatricians at regular intervals with regard to their health development.
Blood tests and parental surveys
on lifestyle and nutrition were
also evaluated.
"No evidence was found of clinically meaningful differences in growth or biochemical measures of nutrition in children on a vegetarian diet,
" said the researchers, who published their study in the scientific journal Pediatrics.
According to the researchers, the vegetarian diet had no negative impact on body mass index, height, vitamin D levels or serum levels such as blood lipid levels.
However, there is a caveat.
The study leaders reported that the vegetarian children who did not eat cow's milk had somewhat less favorable blood lipid levels than vegetarian children who drank two glasses of milk a day or children who ate meat.
What the study revealed, however, was that the children who were exclusively vegetarian were 87 percent more likely to be underweight than the control group.
Study director Jonathon Maguire therefore advises parents on a vegetarian diet to ensure that their child develops
sufficient weight
, as the medical journal informs.
(jg)
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Learn more about the
Vegetarian Diet, Growth, and Nutrition in Early Childhood: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Release Date
: May 2, 2022
Period of investigation
: The study is based on data from the Canadian collaborative study "targetkids", which aims to analyze and promote the health of Canadian children.
Published
in the scientific journal Pediatrics
Scope
: 8,907 study participants
Study authors
: Canadian research team led by Jonathon Maguire from St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto
