Considerations in planning vegan diets: infants, children

[Guest guest]

You'll recognize these names as A. Reed Mangels and Virginia 'Ginny') Messina.

Nutrition Matters is the company Ginny and her husband run in Washingotn,

and the Vegetarian Resource Group has long been associated with Reed Mangels.

 

J Am Diet Assoc 2001 Jun;101(6):670-7

Considerations in planning vegan diets: infants.

Mangels AR, Messina V.

Vegetarian Resource Group, Baltimore, Md., USA.

 

Appropriately planned vegan diets can satisfy nutrient needs of infants. The

American Dietetic Association and The American Academy of Pediatrics state that

vegan diets can promote normal infant growth. It is important for parents to

provide appropriate foods for vegan infants, using guidelines like those in this

article. Key considerations when working with vegan families include composition

of breast milk from vegan women, appropriate breast milk substitutes,

supplements, type and amount of dietary fat, and solid food introduction. Growth

of vegan infants appears adequate with post-weaning growth related to dietary

adequacy. Breast milk composition is similar to that of non-vegetarians except

for fat composition. For the first 4 to 6 months, breast milk should be the sole

food with soy-based infant formula as an alternative. Commercial soymilk should

not be the primary beverage until after age 1 year. Breastfed vegan infants may

need supplements of vitamin B-12 if maternal diet is inadequate; older infants

may need zinc supplements and reliable sources of iron and vitamins D and B-12.

Timing of solid food introduction is similar to that recommended for

non-vegetarians. Tofu, dried beans, and meat analogs are introduced as protein

sources around 7-8 months. Vegan diets can be planned to be nutritionally

adequate and support growth for infants.

 

Publication Types:

Review

Review, Tutorial

 

PMID: 11424546 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

J Am Diet Assoc 2001 Jun;101(6):661-9

Considerations in planning vegan diets: children.

Messina V, Mangels AR.

Nutrition Matters, Inc, 1543 Lincoln St, Port Townsend, WA 98368, USA.

 

This article reviews research on the growth and nutrient intake of vegan

children and provides guidelines for counselling parents of vegan children.

Although diets of vegan children meet or exceed recommendations for most

nutrients, and vegan children have higher intakes of fiber and lower intakes of

total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol than omnivore children, some studies

indicate that they may be low in calcium. In addition, bioavailability of zinc

and iron from plant foods can be low. Protein needs are slightly higher for

vegan children but are easily met with a varied diet that provides adequate

energy. Special attention should be given to dietary practices that enhance

absorption of zinc and iron from plant foods. Further, good sources of the

omega-3 fatty acid linolenic acid should be emphasized to enhance synthesis of

the long-chain fatty acid docosahexanoic acid. Dietetics professionals who

counsel vegan families should help parents identify good sources of vitamin

B-12, riboflavin, zinc, calcium and, if sun exposure is not adequate, vitamin D.

This should not be problematic, due to the growing number and availability of

fortified vegan foods that can help children meet all nutrient needs. Therefore,

with appropriate food choices, vegan diets can be adequate for children at all

ages.

 

PMID: 11424545 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

 

 

 

 

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