Health aspects of vegan diets among children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analyses
Language English Country United States Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
- Keywords
- Systematic review, children, health, meta-analysis, vegan diet,
- MeSH
- Diet, Vegan * MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena MeSH
- Infant MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Nutritional Status MeSH
- Dietary Supplements MeSH
- Child, Preschool MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Infant MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Child, Preschool MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Meta-Analysis MeSH
- Systematic Review MeSH
Health effects of vegan diets among children and adolescents are a controversial public health topic. Thus, the aim of the present systematic review is to evaluate a broad range of health outcomes among vegan children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years. 18 studies met the inclusion criteria (17 cross-sectional, 1 RCT). Meta-analyses showed lower protein, calcium, vitamin B2, saturated fatty acid, and cholesterol intakes, and lower ferritin, HDL and LDL levels as well as height in vegan compared to omnivorous children/adolescents. Higher intakes of carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, folate, vitamins C and E, magnesium, iron, and potassium were observed in vegans. Blood levels of vitamin B12 were higher among vegan children due to supplement use. Single study results suggested further differences between vegan and non-vegan children, such as lower bone mineral content or urinary iodine among vegan children. Risk of Bias was rated as high or very high in 7 out of 18 studies. The certainty of evidence for the meta-analyses was low (n = 2) or very low (n = 46). Overall, the available evidence points to both risks and benefits associated with a vegan diet among children, although more and better designed studies are needed.
Center for Public Health Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
Centre for Public Health Promotion The National Institute of Public Health Prague Czech Republic
Department of Nutritional Sciences University of Vienna Vienna Austria
Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Heidelberg Institute of Global Health Heidelberg Germany
Faculty of Medicine University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
Federal Office of Public Health Bern Switzerland
German Center for Diabetes Research Partner Düsseldorf Munich Neuherberg Germany
German Diabetes Center Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology Düsseldorf Germany
Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine Prague Czech Republic
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