A major scientific review has concluded that children can safely follow vegetarian or vegan diets, provided they receive the right supplements or consume foods fortified with essential nutrients. The findings, published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, assessed how plant-based eating patterns affect growth, health, and nutrient intake among young people.
Researchers examined data from nearly 49,000 children and teenagers across 18 countries, comparing those who followed vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous diets. The study’s lead author, Monica Dinu of the University of Florence, said the results show that plant-based diets can support healthy development when they are carefully planned. She stressed that key nutrients must be monitored to avoid deficiencies.
The review found that vegetarian children typically consumed more fibre, iron, folate, vitamin C, and magnesium than their meat-eating peers. However, their intake of energy, protein, fat, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and zinc was lower. Similar patterns were observed among vegan children, whose calcium intake was notably low. According to the researchers, vitamin B12 was consistently inadequate without fortified foods or supplements.
Study co-author Jeannette Beasley of New York University noted that children on vegetarian and vegan diets may require supplementation for nutrients such as vitamin B12, calcium, iodine, and zinc. These gaps were most evident among vegans, who avoid all animal products, including dairy and eggs.
Despite these shortcomings, the review identified several health advantages linked to plant-based diets. Both vegetarian and vegan children showed signs of stronger cardiovascular health compared with omnivores. The study reported lower cholesterol levels, including reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is associated with a higher risk of heart disease. Vegetarian children were generally slightly shorter and leaner, with lower body mass index and fat mass, though these differences remained within healthy ranges.
The authors cautioned that interpreting the results has limitations. It remains difficult to determine whether the diets themselves caused the observed health outcomes. Families adopting plant-based eating patterns may also differ in lifestyle or socioeconomic factors that influence children’s health.
Given the increasing number of households adopting plant-based diets for ethical, environmental, or health reasons, researchers urged parents to seek guidance from paediatricians or dieticians when planning meals for children. They also called for more official recommendations to help families ensure adequate nutrient intake during key stages of growth.
Dinu said the team hopes the findings will help families better understand the potential benefits and risks associated with plant-based diets, enabling them to make informed decisions that support children’s long-term wellbeing.
