A team of researchers from Italy, the United States and Australia analyzed data from more than 48,000 children and adolescents around the world who followed different dietary patterns, to study the health, growth and nutritional adequacy effects.
The researchers found that plant-based diets are rich in nutrients, but may lead to deficiencies in some essential elements if not compensated for by fortified foods or dietary supplements.
The study showed that vegetarian children, who abstain from meat and fish but consume dairy products and eggs, consumed higher amounts of fiber, iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and magnesium compared to meat-eaters, while having lower amounts of energy, protein, fat, vitamin B12, and zinc. Although evidence regarding strict vegan diets (abstaining from all animal products and relying solely on plant-based foods) was limited, it showed similar patterns.
The results also showed that vegetarian children were less obese, lighter, and slightly shorter, with lower body mass index, fat mass, and bone mineral content.
Dr. Janet Beasley, associate professor in the Departments of Nutrition and Food and Medicine at New York University, explains: "Vitamin B12 levels were observed to be inadequate without supplementation or fortified foods, and calcium, iodine, and zinc intake was often at the lower end of recommended ranges, making them key elements to pay attention to for vegetarian children."
She added: "Calcium intake was particularly low among these children."
The study showed that vegetarian and vegan children exhibited better cardiovascular health indicators than meat-eating children, with lower levels of total cholesterol and LDL (the “bad” cholesterol).
Researchers emphasize that plant-based diets are a healthy option for children if carefully planned, and can offer both environmental and health benefits. They advise consulting with nutritionists and pediatricians to ensure all nutritional needs are met, with a focus on essential elements such as vitamin B12, calcium, iodine, iron, and zinc.
Researchers point to the need for clear, evidence-based guidelines to support families in planning healthy plant-based diets, while warning that current findings are limited by variations in methodologies and population groups, and the difficulty of accurately assessing dietary intake.
The study was published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
