Are plant-based diets healthy for children?

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1. 1

   Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Children's Growth, Nutritional Biomarkers, and Health Outcomes and Risks: A Systematic Review.

   Nutrition reviews (Kajiura et al.)Published May 25, 2026Checked Oct 3, 2026

   “Vegan preschoolers showed distinct metabolic profiles, including lower cholesterol and higher adiponectin-to-leptin ratios. In prepubertal children (6-11 years), vegan diets supported adequate growth but were often accompanied by iron and B12 deficiencies. Despite similar bone mineral density, vegetarian children had higher bone turnover markers. Across ages, vegan diets were associated with lower fat mass and favorable cardiovascular risk markers. Balanced plant-based diets with essential micronutrient supplementation reduced nutritional concerns.ConclusionsWell-planned plant-based diets can support healthy growth in children, but strict avoidance of animal-sourced foods during critical periods may cause deficiencies in iron, vitamins A, D, B12, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), affecting overall and bone growth, immune function, and cognitive development. Impacts vary by developmental stage, dietary pattern, supplementation, and cultural context, emphasizing the need for individualized planning and monitoring.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO registration No. CRD42024568306.”

2. 2

   Diet and growth of vegetarian and vegan children

   BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health (Alexy)Published Dec 1, 2023Checked Oct 3, 2026

   “Results on marker of iron status were inconsistent. Vitamin B12 status was lower without supplementation, but did not differ between groups when supplementation prevalence was high. Blood lipid profile seems to be more favourable in plant-based groups. Bone mineral density was lower in vegetarians and vegans, but differences attenuated after adjustment. Nevertheless, the long-term clinical relevance of these results remains unclear. Energy intake did not differ between groups and was in the recommended range, although protein intake was lower in vegetarians and vegans. Reported calcium intakes did not differ or were lower in vegetarians compared with omnivores, and were lowest in vegans. More favourable intakes in subjects on plant-based diets were found for fibre, sugar, folate, magnesium and iron. All but one study were cross-sectional, and longitudinal studies of both vegetarian and vegan children/adolescents are required to prospectively examine associations of plant-based diets with health. Professional societies should develop country-specific food-based dietary guidelines adapted to the special dietary habits for children on plant-based diets.”

3. 3

   Growth, body composition, and cardiovascular and nutritional risk of 5- to 10-y-old children consuming vegetarian, vegan, or omnivore diets

   American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Desmond et al.)Published Jan 4, 2021Checked Oct 3, 2026

   “All results are reported relative to omnivores. Vegetarians had lower gluteofemoral adiposity but similar total fat and lean mass. Vegans had lower fat indices in all regions but similar lean mass. Both groups had lower bone mineral content (BMC). The difference for vegetarians attenuated after accounting for body size but remained in vegans (total body minus the head: -3.7%; 95% CI: -7.0, -0.4; lumbar spine: -5.6%; 95% CI: -10.6, -0.5). Vegetarians had lower total cholesterol, HDL, and serum B-12 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] without supplementation but higher glucose, VLDL, and triglycerides. Vegan diets were associated with a healthier cardiovascular risk profile but also with increased risk of nutritional deficiencies and lower BMC and height. Vegetarians showed less pronounced nutritional deficiencies but, unexpectedly, a less favorable cardiometabolic risk profile. Further research may help maximize the benefits of PBDs in children.”

4. 4

   Vegan diet and nutritional status in infants, children and adolescents: A position paper based on a systematic search by the ESPGHAN Nutrition Committee

   Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (Verduci et al.)Published Aug 17, 2025Checked Oct 3, 2026

   “A total of 10 articles were accepted and included in the final review, providing information on approximately 1500 children following a vegan diet. Several articles assessed more than one outcome: seven addressed body growth, five evaluated nutritional adequacy and five examined laboratory biomarkers. To complement the primary data, three systematic reviews and meta-analyses were also included. Current evidence is inconclusive to determine whether a strictly vegan diet supports normal childhood growth, although no significant differences in height or body mass index z-scores were observed compared to omnivorous peers. We recommend that dietary intake, growth and nutritional status should be regularly monitored in vegan children. Focusing on dietary intakes (e.g., protein, omega-3, calcium and iron) and ensuring supplementation with specific micronutrients, including vitamin B12, is essential during paediatric age when following a strict vegan diet. Clinical research, well-designed prospective studies and high-quality trials are required to address current research gaps.”

5. 5

   Risks and benefits of vegan and vegetarian diets in children

   Proceedings of The Nutrition Society (Kiely)Published Jan 28, 2021Checked Oct 3, 2026

   “Although intakes and status of some nutrients (e.g. vitamin D and iron) are low in many children, vegan children are particularly susceptible due to inadequate supply and/or excess dietary fibre as well as other components that limit bioavailability. Although position papers from North America state that well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets, supplemented appropriately, are suitable for all life stages, European statements include strong recommendations to parents that vegan diets should not be adopted by children without medical and dietetic supervision. Case histories of malnutrition and serious harm persist, including irreversible neurological damage due to vitamin B12 deficiency among un-supplemented children. The evidence available to evaluate the nutritional appropriateness of vegetarian diets for children is inadequate and dated. Although nutritionally adequate vegetarian diets are more easily achieved, successful provision of a complete vegan diet for a young child requires substantial commitment, expert guidance, planning, resources and supplementation.”

6. 6

   Influence of a Vegan Diet on Child Health and Development: A Scoping Review.

   Nutrition reviews (Brits & le)Published Apr 1, 2026Checked Oct 3, 2026

   “This review aimed to analyze existing literature on the impact of a VN diet on children's health and development, identify knowledge gaps, and outline clinical and research recommendations. A systematic search across databases with key words was conducted to identify relevant articles on VN diets in pediatrics. Screening of 128 articles yielded 27 studies that remained after removing duplicates and irrelevant studies. The studies were primarily from Europe, especially the United Kingdom and Italy, and used cross-sectional designs, limiting causal conclusions and long-term impact assessments. Small sample sizes and self-reported data introduced biases and affected accuracy. The review emphasized the need for careful planning and supplementing VN diets to prevent nutrient deficiencies in children. Further research is needed to optimize VN diets, improve public health guidance and support healthcare professionals. Vegan diets can support healthy growth in children but require careful planning to prevent deficiencies. Healthcare professionals should be equipped to support families choosing VN diets for their children.”

7. 7

   Growth parameters and IGF-1 axis biomarkers differ among omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan children.

   European journal of nutrition (Allner et al.)Published Aug 29, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026

   “Vegans showed lower BMI-SDS than vegetarians, most prominently in the TS-adjusted model (β = -1.01, p = 0.009). Omnivores had the highest BMI-SDS (0.32 SDS). Vegans had lower IGF-1 levels than vegetarians and omnivores in the age-adjusted model (ß = -0.52, p = 0.031). Vegetarians exhibited lower IGF-1 concentrations than omnivores in age- and TS- adjusted models. Vegans showed significantly lower IGFBP-3-SDS than vegetarians in TS-adjusted models (β = -0.75, p = 0.042). IGFBP-3 values were lower in vegetarians than in omnivores after adjustment for age (β = -0.18, p = 0.005).ConclusionChildren following a vegan diet are significantly smaller and have a lower BMI than their peers. Both, vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with lower BMIs and lower IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 values. These findings highlight the potential relevance of dietary composition for growth childhood.Clinical trial registrationLIFE Child is registered with Clinical Trials.gov (NCT02550236) since October 2010. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02550236.”

8. 8

   Plant-Based Diets in Adolescence: Cardiometabolic Benefits, Developmental Risks, and the Role of Fortification.

   Nutrients (Simionescu et al.)Published Sep 16, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026

   “Healthy plant-based patterns-rich in whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and unsaturated fats-are associated with more favourable blood pressure, glycaemia, lipids, adiposity, and insulin sensitivity in adolescents, whereas patterns built on refined grains, sugar-rich foods, and ultra-processed plant products are associated with the opposite profile. Recent paediatric meta-analyses identify recurrent vulnerabilities for vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin D, alongside a leaner phenotype that includes lower bone mineral content and, in vegans, shorter stature. The commercial food environment is a further determinant: audits of plant-based meat alternatives show that most are ultra-processed, that salt frequently exceeds national targets, and that only a minority are fortified. Much adolescent-specific evidence remains low-certainty and cross-sectional. The relevant question is therefore not whether plant-based diets are beneficial or harmful in adolescence, but under which conditions they improve cardiometabolic health without compromising growth, bone accrual, or micronutrient sufficiency.”

9. 9

   Nutritional availability and carbon footprints of omnivorous, vegetarian and vegan diets: A cross-sectional analysis of dietary data for UK children aged 2-12.

   PloS one (Coffey et al.)Published Jun 18, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026

   “Vegan children also met iron requirements from diet alone, whereas omnivore and vegetarian children did not meet iron targets without supplementation. Vitamin D intake was insufficient across all groups when supplements were excluded, with only vegan children achieving recommended levels through supplementation. Zinc requirements were met only by vegetarian children with the aid of supplements and were not met by vegan or omnivore children with or without supplementation. Iodine intake remained inadequate in vegan children even with supplementation. Mean daily greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions differed significantly between diet groups, with omnivores having the highest emissions, while vegans had the lowest emissions: 46% lower than omnivores, and 20% lower than vegetarians. Well-planned PB diets can meet most nutrient needs in UK children when supported by fortified foods and supplements, while substantially reducing dietary GHG emissions compared with omnivorous diets. Shifting away from animal protein and dairy provides an opportunity for improving both nutritional quality and environmental sustainability.”

10. 10

    Diet Quality, Food Processing, and Nutrient Adequacy in Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivorous Dietary Patterns: A Critical Narrative Review.

    Nutrients (Clemente-Suárez et al.)Published Jul 13, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026

    “Interpretation of the broader evidence base is nonetheless constrained by comparator quality, residual confounding, exposure misclassification, reliance on intermediate biomarkers, and limited follow-up. This critical narrative review integrates clinical, methodological, nutritional, and physiological evidence to compare vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous dietary patterns, and argues that the dominant explanatory axis of long-term outcomes is dietary pattern quality-minimally processed plant-rich composition, nutrient adequacy, low ultra-processed food intake, and adherence-rather than the binary inclusion or exclusion of animal-source foods. Well-planned vegan and vegetarian patterns are valid dietary expressions that require systematic attention to vitamin B12, iodine, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, EPA/DHA, and protein quality. Public health messaging should prioritise food quality, processing level, nutrient adequacy, adherence, and outcome hierarchy over binary dietary identities.”