Vegan diet in young children remodels metabolism and challenges the statuses of essential nutrients

Abstract

Vegan diets are gaining popularity, also in families with young children. However, the effects of strict plant‐based diets on metabolism and micronutrient status of children are unknown. We recruited 40 Finnish children with a median age 3.5 years—vegans, vegetarians, or omnivores from same daycare centers—for a cross‐sectional study. They enjoyed nutritionist‐planned vegan or omnivore meals in daycare, and the full diets were analyzed with questionnaires and food records. Detailed analysis of serum metabolomics and biomarkers indicated vitamin A insufficiency and border‐line sufficient vitamin D in all vegan participants. Their serum total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, essential amino acid, and docosahexaenoic n‐3 fatty acid (DHA) levels were markedly low and primary bile acid biosynthesis, and phospholipid balance was distinct from omnivores. Possible combination of low vitamin A and DHA status raise concern for their visual health. Our evidence indicates that (i) vitamin A and D status of vegan children requires special attention; (ii) dietary recommendations for children cannot be extrapolated from adult vegan studies; and (iii) longitudinal studies on infant‐onset vegan diets are warranted.

Nutrient Intake and Status of German Children and Adolescents Consuming Vegetarian, Vegan or Omnivore Diets: Results of the VeChi Youth Study

“…Hence, the concern of inadequate protein or amino acid intake seems not to be relevant in practice [ 53 ]. In a recent untargeted metabolomics analysis among a small group of Finnish toddlers, the vegan group had a pattern of overall lower circulating concentrations of essential amino acids, but only few individual amino acids concentrations differed significantly [ 17 ]. Such results have to be regarded against the background of overall high protein intakes in the general paediatric population [ 54 , 55 ].…”

“…Three of them were published by a Polish working group examining in a cross-sectional design the vitamin status, inflammation and bone health in vegetarian and/or vegan children [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Another two cross-sectional studies from Scandinavia compared the dietary intake and nutrient status of Swedish vegans and omnivores aged 6–20 years ( n = 30) [ 15 , 16 ], and of Finnish children ( n = 40, median age 3.5 years) on a vegan, vegetarian (including fish-eaters) or omnivore diet [ 17 ]. A further cross-sectional study, the German VeChi Diet Study, was conducted by our working group and examined dietary intakes of 430 vegetarian, vegan or omnivore toddlers aged one to three years [ 18 ].…”

Does a Vegetarian Diet Affect the Levels of Myokine and Adipokine in Prepubertal Children?

“…A proper diet is one of the important factors that determine age-appropriate body weight and body composition, including fat, lean, and bone mass, which is why children's diets should be safe and prevent nutrient deficiencies [1,2]. Recently, many vegetarian parents want their children to adopt their diet [3][4][5]. The lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, which includes milk, milk products, and eggs is the most common variant.…”

Nutrition to Optimise Human Health—How to Obtain Physiological Substantiation?

“…Furthermore, several risk factors for micronutrient deficiencies are known, including age, use of multiple or specific medication, bariatric surgery, regular strenuous exercise, lack of sun exposure, disease, adherence to specific diets etc. [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Next to micronutrients, consumption of adequate amounts of protein also merits attention in certain groups, such as elderly and chronically diseased [ 23 ] and as global health issue [ 33 ].…”