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Clinical practice

Vegetarian infant and child nutrition

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Abstract

The aim of this review is to give insight on the benefits and risks of vegetarianism, with special emphasis on vegetarian child nutrition. This eating pattern excluding meat and fish is being adopted by a growing number of people. A vegetarian diet has been shown to be associated with lower mortality of ischaemic heart disease and lower prevalence of obesity. Growth in children on a vegetarian diet including dairy has been shown to be similar to omnivorous peers. Although vegetarianism in adolescents is associated with eating disorders, there is no proof of a causal relation, as the eating disorder generally precedes the exclusion of meat from the diet. A well-balanced lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, including dairy products, can satisfy all nutritional needs of the growing child. In contrast, a vegan diet, excluding all animal food sources, has at least to be supplemented with vitamin B12, with special attention to adequate intakes of calcium and zinc and energy-dense foods containing enough high-quality protein for young children. The more restricted the diet and the younger the child, the greater the risk for deficiencies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, University Hospital Ghent, 3K12D, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Myriam Van Winckel, Saskia Vande Velde, Ruth De Bruyne & Stephanie Van Biervliet

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  1. Myriam Van Winckel
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  2. Saskia Vande Velde
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  4. Stephanie Van Biervliet
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Correspondence to Myriam Van Winckel.

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Van Winckel, M., Vande Velde, S., De Bruyne, R. et al. Clinical practice. Eur J Pediatr 170, 1489–1494 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-011-1547-x

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