Research Institute for Plant-Based Nutrition, 35444, Biebertal, Germany.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
Eur J Nutr. 2022 Apr;61(3):1507-1520. doi: 10.1007/s00394-021-02753-3. Epub 2021 Dec 2.
There is an ongoing debate whether vegetarian (VG) and especially vegan (VN) diets are nutritionally adequate in early childhood. Hence, the Vegetarian and Vegan Children Study (VeChi Diet Study) aimed to assess the food and nutrient intake of VG and VN infants.
The study examined the diets of 1-3-year-old VG, VN, and omnivorous (OM) children (n = 430). Dietary intake was assessed via a 3-day weighed dietary record and compared between groups using ANCOVA. Lifestyle data were collected using a questionnaire. Here, the results of micronutrient and fatty acid intakes are presented.
Most nutrient intakes (with and without supplements) differed significantly between VN children and the two other groups, with a more favourable overall micronutrient intake in VN, followed by VG children, [e.g., the highest intake of vitamin E (8.3 mg/d vs. VG 7.4 mg/d and OM 5.1 mg/d), vitamin B (569 µg/d vs. VG 513 µg/d and OM 481 µg/d), folate (143 µg/d vs. VG 116 µg/d and OM 108 µg/d), magnesium (241 mg/d vs. VG 188 mg/d and OM 164 mg/d), and iron (8.9 mg/d vs. VG 7.3 mg/d and OM 6.0 mg/d)] as well as fat quality [highest intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (8.7 E% vs. VG 6.9 E% and OM 4.5 E%) and lowest intake of saturated fatty acids (9.1 E% vs. VG 11.9 E% and OM 14.0 E%)]. In contrast, OM children had the highest intake of vitamin B (639 µg/d vs. VG 461 µg/d and VN 429 µg/d), calcium (445 mg/d vs. VG 399 mg/d and VN 320 mg/d), iodine (47 µg/d vs. VG 33 µg/d and VN 31 µg/d), and DHA (35.4 mg/d vs. VG 16.6 mg/d and VN 18.4 mg/d). Without supplementation, OM children had the highest average vitamin B intake (1.5 µg/d vs. VG 0.6 µg/d and VN 0.2 µg/d), whereas VN children had the highest average vitamin B intake with supplementation (73.8 µg/d vs. VG 1.3 µg/d and OM 1.7 µg/d). Without supplementation, none of the groups' median intakes met the harmonised Average Requirement (h-AR) for vitamin D and iodine. Moreover, VG and VN children did not achieve h-ARs for vitamin B, vitamin B, and iron-if a low absorption of iron is anticipated; VN children also did not do so for calcium.
In early childhood, VN and VG diets can provide most micronutrients in desirable amounts and a preferable fat quality compared to an OM diet. Special focus should be paid to (potentially) critical nutrients, particularly vitamin D, iodine, and DHA for all children regardless of diet, as well as vitamin B, vitamin B, calcium, and iron for VG and VN children.
This study was registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00010982) on (September 2, 2016).
关于素食（VG），尤其是纯素食（VN）饮食在幼儿期是否营养充足，目前仍存在争议。因此，“素食和纯素食儿童研究（VeChi 饮食研究）”旨在评估 1-3 岁 VG、VN 和杂食（OM）儿童的食物和营养素摄入量。
本研究对 430 名 1-3 岁 VG、VN 和 OM 儿童的饮食进行了评估（n=430）。膳食摄入量通过 3 天的称重膳食记录进行评估，并使用协方差分析（ANCOVA）比较各组之间的差异。生活方式数据通过问卷调查收集。这里呈现了微量营养素和脂肪酸摄入量的结果。
大多数营养素的摄入量（包括和不包括补充剂）在 VN 儿童和其他两组之间存在显著差异，VN 儿童的整体微量营养素摄入量更有利，其次是 VG 儿童，[例如，最高的维生素 E 摄入量（8.3mg/d 与 VG 7.4mg/d 和 OM 5.1mg/d）、维生素 B（569μg/d 与 VG 513μg/d 和 OM 481μg/d）、叶酸（143μg/d 与 VG 116μg/d 和 OM 108μg/d）、镁（241mg/d 与 VG 188mg/d 和 OM 164mg/d）和铁（8.9mg/d 与 VG 7.3mg/d 和 OM 6.0mg/d）]以及脂肪质量[最高的多不饱和脂肪酸摄入量（8.7E% 与 VG 6.9E% 和 OM 4.5E%）和最低的饱和脂肪酸摄入量（9.1E% 与 VG 11.9E% 和 OM 14.0E%）]。相比之下，OM 儿童的维生素 B（639μg/d 与 VG 461μg/d 和 VN 429μg/d）、钙（445mg/d 与 VG 399mg/d 和 VN 320mg/d）、碘（47μg/d 与 VG 33μg/d 和 VN 31μg/d）和 DHA（35.4mg/d 与 VG 16.6mg/d 和 VN 18.4mg/d）的摄入量最高。不补充的情况下，OM 儿童的维生素 B 平均摄入量最高（1.5μg/d 与 VG 0.6μg/d 和 VN 0.2μg/d），而 VN 儿童补充后的维生素 B 平均摄入量最高（73.8μg/d 与 VG 1.3μg/d 和 OM 1.7μg/d）。不补充的情况下，没有一组的中位数摄入量达到维生素 D 和碘的协调平均需求量（h-AR）。此外，VG 和 VN 儿童如果预期铁的吸收率低，则无法达到维生素 B、维生素 B 和铁的 h-AR；VN 儿童也无法达到钙的 h-AR。
在幼儿期，VN 和 VG 饮食可以提供大多数微量营养素，并且与 OM 饮食相比，提供了更好的脂肪质量。特别应关注所有儿童（无论饮食如何）潜在的关键营养素，特别是维生素 D、碘和 DHA，以及 VG 和 VN 儿童的维生素 B、维生素 B、钙和铁。
本研究于 2016 年 9 月 2 日在德国临床试验注册中心（DRKS00010982）注册。
