Episode Details

Are vegan kids shorter than vegetarians and omnivores?! Recent study reports vegan children are shorter than omnivores or vegetarians. A look at the science of diet & child growth

are vegan kids shorter than omnivores?

new study looked at children eating vegetarian, vegan or omnivore diets. vegan kids were shorter than omnivores

vegans had less fat mass, lower cholesterol, lower vit D and b12 and were 3cm shorter than omnivores

no significant difference in height in the vegans if statistics are done. lower cholesterol in vegans still holds so main conclusion of the paper is that vegans have better cardiovascular profile

cause: vegan diet itself?
Less than half of vegans took b12 supplements. almost a third of vegans weren’t getting b12. only a 3rd of vegans were supplementing vitD. iron status of the vegans was also lower

if a vegan diet is planned properly, with b12, do we still see a height difference?

finland: vegans, vegetarians, omnivores. b12 intake was similar. actual b12 levels in the body adequate in all groups. iron status did not differ between vegans and omnivores

height: vegans fell in normal range; most vegetarians; most omnivores

normal height in vegan kids with appropriate b12

Germany: most vegans supplemented b12. average height was not different between vegans and omnivores

they conclude: vegetarian and vegan diets can ensure normal growth

also Germany: 88% of vegans supplemented b12, 54% supplemented vitD

prevalence of supplementation of B12 higher than Polish study

active b12 in the blood: no significant difference between vegans and omnis

most vegans getting their b12. no elevated risk for iron deficiency in vegetarians or vegans. no significant difference in height between 3 groups

older studies: some look at vegan children with intake of energy, calcium, and vitamin D below recommended amounts; conclude vegan diet can support normal growth

bottomline: 1) majority of kids on vegan/vegetarian diet appear to be of normal height

most recent studies show no differences in height between vegans vegetarians and omnivores

American academy of nutrition and dietetics: appropriately planned vegetarian and vegan diets are healthful, appropriate for all life stages

British dietetics assoc: well planned vegan diets are appropriate at all ages

Germany: insufficient evidence. don’t recommend vegan diets in pregnancy and children

France: vegan diet not recommended for infants, children and adolescents

omnivore kids: high LDL-c. omnivore kids: 14% of calories from saturated fat. vegans = 6% and vegetarians = 10

whether you're omnivore or vegan, doable to keep saturated fat under control
Vegetarian kids: lower b12 and vitD than omnivores.
b12 a vegan thing? vegetarians eat animal products.
Iron, milk & eggs are not good iron sources.
vegetarians: not the best cardiovascular profile. vegetarians ate more processed foods
vegan diets for kids. Take a b12 supplement
Sometimes vegans are too reliant on just fruits and vegetables.
omega 3s, DHA and EPA. vegan sources include algae and algae supplements

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Animations: Even Topland @toplandmedia

References:
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/113/6/1in565/6178918
https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/emmm.202013492
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/4/832/htm

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