Study: Vegan Diets May Be Beneficial for Children, but There’s a Catch

Vegetarian or vegan diets may be beneficial for children, according to a large new review, but they are likely to require fortified foods or supplements to ensure adequate intake of all essential nutrients.

According to the review published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, plant-based diets can offer certain health benefits for children, including more favorable cardiovascular health markers compared with children who eat meat.

The findings suggest that “well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets, when supplemented if necessary, can meet nutrient requirements and support healthy growth in children,” said Monica Dinu, lead author of the review and a researcher at the University of Florence (Italy), in a statement.

Researchers note that this is the most comprehensive review to date of plant-based diets in children, Euronews reports.

They analyzed data from nearly 49,000 children and adolescents across 18 countries, examining dietary habits, health indicators, growth, and nutritional status. The sample included vegetarians—those who consume dairy products and eggs but not meat, fish, or poultry—as well as vegans and omnivores.

Vegetarian children generally consumed more fiber, iron, folate, vitamin C, and magnesium than omnivores, but had lower intakes of energy, protein, fat, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and zinc.

There were fewer data available on vegan diets, but the trends were similar. In particular, calcium intake among vegan children was especially low, the review found.

According to the researchers, children following plant-based diets may need supplements or fortified foods to avoid deficiencies in several key nutrients.

“Importantly, without supplements or fortified foods, vitamin B12 intake did not reach adequate levels, and intakes of calcium, iodine, and zinc were often at the lower end of recommended ranges,” said Janet Beasley, one of the review’s authors and an associate professor at New York University (USA).

Both vegan and vegetarian children showed better cardiovascular health markers than those who ate meat. Vegetarians tended to be slightly shorter and leaner, with lower body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and bone mineral content.

They also had lower cholesterol levels, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol—the so-called “bad” or “unhealthy” cholesterol that can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries.

The study has limitations. For example, it is difficult to prove that children’s diets directly caused the observed differences in health outcomes. Families who choose plant-based diets may differ from those who eat meat in terms of socioeconomic status or lifestyle.

The researchers recommend that parents carefully plan their children’s diets, ideally with support from pediatricians and dietitians.

They also say that more official guidelines are needed to help families following plant-based diets ensure that children receive all necessary nutrients during periods of growth.

“We hope these findings will provide clearer guidance on both the benefits and potential risks of plant-based diets, helping the growing number of parents who choose such diets for health, ethical, or environmental reasons,” Monica Dinu said.

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