Food consumption and height/weight status of Dutch preschool children on alternative diets.

The effects of alternative dietary practices on nutrient intake and height/weight status were studied in three groups of Dutch preschool children: 33 vegetarians, 26 anthroposophics, and 33 macrobiotics. Fifty children on omnivorus diets composed the control group. The children fed vegetarian and anthroposophic diets were somewhat lighter and shorter than the children on omnivorous diets but were within normal limits. The children fed macrobiotic diets were significantly lighter and shorter. Results of the 5-day weighing record method used to measure food consumption were compared with the Dutch Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs), which recommend higher protein and lower iron for children than the RDAs for the U.S. The diets of the anthroposophically and vegetarian-fed children were most similar and conformed better to the Dutch RDAs than the diets of the omnivorously and macrobiotically fed children. The omnivorously fed children had intakes of iron and polyunsaturated fat below the Dutch RDAs and intakes of mono- and disaccharides and cholesterol above the Dutch RDAs. The intakes of calcium, riboflavin, and vitamin D recorded for the macrobiotically fed children were substantially below the Dutch RDAs. The vitamin D content of the diets of all four groups was low; however, most of the omnivorously fed children used vitamin D supplements, and the other three groups of children were sent out in the sun as much as possible. A high risk for rickets existed in the combination of periods of bad weather and a low intake of both calcium and vitamin D.