May 3, 2022, 6:12 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

How do children who abstain from meat develop compared to those who are neither vegetarian nor vegan? This question was the focus of a study by researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital of Unity Health in Toronto, Canada. For the study, published in the journal Pediatrics, the scientists analyzed data from nearly 9,000 Canadian children. The result: Vegetarian children develop similarly to meat-eaters but have a deficit.

Study with nearly 9,000 children

The researchers examined 8,907 children aged between six months and eight years. Two hundred fifty of them did not eat meat. Between 2008 and 2019, data such as height and weight, cholesterol levels, and iron and vitamin D content in the blood were recorded. The evaluation of all collected information showed: Vegetarian children are about the same height and weight as children who consume meat. No nutrient deficiency was detected.¹

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Vegetarian children have a higher risk of being underweight

Despite the predominantly similar results, the researchers found a deficit in vegetarian children: They had twice the risk of becoming underweight. Dr. Jonathan Maguire, a pediatrician at St. Michael’s Hospital of Unity Health in Toronto, summarizes the findings: “This study shows that Canadian children who were on a vegetarian diet had similar growth and biochemical nutrition measures compared to children who were not on a vegetarian diet. A vegetarian diet was associated with a higher likelihood of being underweight, highlighting the need for a careful nutrition plan for underweight children when considering a vegetarian diet.”²

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Limitations of the study

It should not go unmentioned that the study has some weaknesses. For example, it did not distinguish whether the children who abstained from meat were “only” vegetarian or even vegan. Additionally, the quality of the vegetarian diet was not assessed. As the researchers emphasized, vegetarian diets come in many forms, and the quality of the individual diet also affects nutrient intake.

Another issue: The data evaluation was based on a classification for underweight intended for children of European descent. However, about one-third of the vegetarian children were of Asian origin, while only about one-fifth of the young meat-eaters were. This factor could also have influenced the result.

Also of interest: Vegetarians are on average slimmer than meat-eaters

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Conclusion: Vegetarian diet is suitable for children

Despite the increased risk of being underweight, the pediatrician and study leader concludes: “A vegetarian diet seems suitable for most children.” However, parents of vegetarian children should pay particular attention to ensuring that the diet is as balanced as possible. The German Nutrition Society (DGE) shares the view that a plant-based diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits, fiber-rich whole grains, and low saturated fats is very suitable for children. A vegan diet, on the other hand, is not recommended, as it can easily lead to a deficiency in critical nutrients such as vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and iodine.³

In the next step, Dr. Maguire and his team plan to investigate how the quality of vegetarian diets and a purely vegan diet affect children’s development.

Sources

• 1. Maguire, J., Elliott, L. J., Birken, C. S., et al. (2022). Vegetarian Diet, Growth, and Nutrition in Early Childhood: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Pediatrics.
• 2. Unity Health Toronto. Study finds children with vegetarian diet have similar growth and nutrition compared to children who eat meat.
• 3. German Nutrition Society (DGE). Vegan, vegetarian, mixed diet: only minor differences in nutrient supply in children and adolescents. (accessed on 5/3/22)