Evidence-Based Nutrient Recommendations

German Study on Vegan Children

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We recently updated our information on vegan children with a 2019 study from Germany that found no significant difference in weight-for-age, height-for-age, or weight-for-height scores between vegan, vegetarian, and nonvegetarian children.

Five vegan children and three vegetarian children were classified as stunted based on their height-for-age. Stunting could be explained by factors such as low parental height, low caloric intake, or being exclusively breastfed for too long. None of these factors is unique to a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Overall, this study indicates that a vegan diet supports normal growth in childhood.

References

Weder S, Hoffmann M, Becker K, Alexy U, Keller M. Energy, macronutrient intake, and anthropometrics of vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous children (1-3 Years) in Germany (VeChi Diet Study). Nutrients. 2019 Apr 12;11(4).

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  • If you have a question about whether it's okay to cut supplements in half or combine supplements to achieve the dose we recommend, the answer is “Yes.” Be aware that nutrient recommendations are only estimates—it's not necessary to consume the exact amount we recommend every single day.
  • We aren't able to respond to questions about which brands of supplements to take.
  • We cannot provide personal nutrition advice for specific health conditions. If you need private counseling, here's a list of plant-based dietitians and we especially recommend VeganHealth contributor Taylor Wolfram, MS, RDN, LDN.
  • We urge you to consult with a qualified health professional for answers to your personal questions.