Introduction
With a rising health consciousness in the population in the today’s time also an increased attention to the correct nutrition accompanies. More and more people follow a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle and pass this on to their children. A vegane nutrition with children, thus an admission of exclusively vegetable food components, leads again and again to extensive discussions among specialists. If children follow a vegan diet, there is a risk that a serious lack of vitamins and nutrients will manifest itself. This can accompany with a risk for development -, ripening – and growth disturbances.
What are the conclusions of worldwide studies?
As part of the ever-growing understanding of health and nutrition, several studies have been conducted worldwide to address the issue of vegan nutrition in childhood. A consensus was not found according to the current situation. Beside many opponents of the vegan nutrition there are again and again proponents, who can prove with studies that a vegan nutrition does not have to be harmful with children.
According to a study of young and pellet can lead the nutrition based on excluding vegetable products to a normal physical and mental development, if one supplies the important nutrients, which cannot be taken up over the vegetable food, additionally. They report also that vegan living humans live much more consciously and healthier and develop less allergies or chronic diseases. In most studies one faces the veganen nourishing way however rejecting.
According to the European Society OF Paediatric infants should not be nourished vegan, since due to the developing Unterversorgung with vital nutrients pronounced lack conditions develop. These represent a large risk for development – and growth delays and above all also a danger for the occurrence of extensive neurological damage. In addition to vitamin B12, iron and folic acid, the other fat-soluble vitamins, minerals and iodine are of particular importance. As a consequence of an iodine deficiency, there is a risk of developing cretinism, which is accompanied by pronounced mental retardation.