400 studies show vegan diets are safe for children
Don’t let the naysayers kid you
The parents of vegan children get mixed messages, often being warned that their kids are missing out on important nutrients. A review of over 400 studies concluded that a well-planned vegan diet, including vitamin B12, can provide all the essential nutrients needed for normal growth in children.
Vegan children are generally lighter but not underweight. This, they say, can be considered favourable, as childhood obesity often persists into adulthood. Similarly, the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries (atherosclerosis) starts in childhood, an early vegan diet may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke later in life.
They caution that deficiencies in vitamins B12, D and calcium seem to be the biggest risks of poorly-planned vegan diets but say that a vegan diet can benefit children by preventing deficiencies in vitamin C and folate. They say it would be useful to have more data on omega- 3s, zinc, iodine and selenium. In summary, a well-planned vegan diet can provide for all your child’s needs and help prevent disease later in life.
Sutter DO and Bender N. 2021. Nutrient status and growth in vegan children. Nutrition Research. 91, 13-25.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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