Scientists have revealed the benefits and risks of a plant-based diet for children

A large meta-analysis has shown that vegetarian and vegan diets can support healthy growth in children if they are carefully planned and supplemented with essential nutrients. However, such a diet carries the risk of deficiencies if key substances are not supplied with fortified foods or supplements. This was reported on December 12 by Medical Xpress magazine.

An international team of scientists from Italy, the USA and Australia analyzed data from more than 48,000 children and adolescents around the world who followed different types of diets — 7,280 lacto-ovo vegetarians, 1,289 vegans and 40,059 children on a mixed diet. The researchers evaluated health indicators, height and nutritional security and came to the conclusion that plant-based diets can be complete, but require special attention to the composition.

Vegetarian children, on average, received more fiber, iron, folate, vitamin C, and magnesium than their peers with a regular diet. At the same time, they had lower intake of energy, protein, fats, vitamin B12 and zinc. There was less data for vegans, but the trends were similar.

"It is noteworthy that vitamin B12 levels did not reach sufficient levels without taking supplements or fortified foods, and intake of calcium, iodine, and zinc was often at the lower limit of recommended levels, which makes these nutrients important for children following a plant-based diet. Vegan children, in particular, had particularly low calcium intake," said Jeanette Beasley, co—author of the study and associate professor of Nutrition and Food Research and Medicine at New York University.

Despite these risks, children on vegetarian and vegan diets had more favorable indicators of cardiovascular health. Experts have found that they have lower total cholesterol and LDL levels, the so-called "bad" cholesterol.

Indicators of height and body composition indicated that children on plant-based diets tended to be leaner. Vegetarians were slightly shorter and lighter, with lower body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and bone mineral density. Vegans also had shorter stature and a lower BMI.

"Our analysis of the available data suggests that well-planned and appropriately supplemented vegetarian and vegan diets can meet nutritional needs and promote healthy growth in children," said Monica Dinu, lead author of the study, a doctor from the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine at the University of Florence.

The authors argue that plant-based diets remain a possible choice for children and can provide both medical and environmental benefits. Parents should not abandon them for ethical or environmental reasons, but it is important to approach such nutrition consciously and, if necessary, consult with nutritionists and pediatricians.

According to the study's co-author, Wolfgang Marx, a doctor from the Center for Nutrition and Mood at Deakin University in Australia, although well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are nutritionally sound and beneficial for adults, there is much less clarity about their suitability for children. The results of the study allegedly show that a balanced approach is extremely important in this case.

On April 7, nutritionist Galina Leontieva listed the pros and cons of vegetarianism. According to the expert, such a diet reduces the risk of heart disease, but at the same time it can lead to vitamin deficiency. She stressed that due to the rejection of animal products, there may be a shortage of proteins, iron and vitamin B12. Leontieva recommended paying attention to the right combination of plant products so that the body receives a full set of essential amino acids.

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