Vegetarian and Vegan Diets in Children Studied Across Multiple Countries

Recent scientific studies have examined the growth and nutritional outcomes of children following vegetarian and vegan diets compared to those who consume animal products. Findings from multiple countries provide updated evidence on health and development in children with different dietary patterns.

A 2025 meta-analysis published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition analyzed data from about 48,000 children and adolescents across 18 countries. The research compared vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous diets, focusing on nutritional intake and growth indicators.

The meta-analysis found that vegetarian and vegan diets, when carefully planned and supported by appropriate supplementation or fortified foods, can support healthy growth in children. However, the studies noted that children on these diets often had lower intakes of energy, protein, fat, vitamin B12, and zinc, while consuming more fiber, iron, folate, vitamin C, and magnesium than their omnivorous peers.

Vegan children in the analysis showed similar nutrient intake patterns to vegetarians, but with particularly low calcium intake. Additional studies have highlighted the importance of monitoring and supplementing certain nutrients, especially in vegan diets, to maintain adequate growth and health.

What the numbers show

• Meta-analysis included about 48,000 children from 18 countries
• Canadian cohort study followed nearly 9,000 children aged 6 months to 8 years
• ESPGHAN review covered approximately 1,500 vegan children
• Polish study assessed children aged 5–10 years

A longitudinal study in Canada involving nearly 9,000 children aged six months to eight years found no association between vegetarian diets and BMI z-score or height-for-age z-score. However, vegetarian children in this study had nearly double the odds of being underweight compared to non-vegetarians, though there was no link to overweight or obesity.

A systematic review and position paper by ESPGHAN in 2025, which included about 1,500 vegan children, reported no significant differences in height or BMI z-scores compared to omnivorous children. The review emphasized the need for regular nutritional monitoring and supplementation, and stated that evidence remains inconclusive on whether a strictly vegan diet fully supports normal childhood growth.

A 2021 cross-sectional study of Polish children aged 5 to 10 years found that vegan children were shorter and had lower bone mineral content than their omnivorous peers but displayed healthier cardiovascular profiles. The study also noted a higher prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency, iron-deficiency anemia, and lower bone mineral content and height among vegan children, with supplementation resolving low B-12 and vitamin D levels.

Additional literature reviews have indicated that, with proper planning and supplementation, vegan diets can provide the nutrients needed for normal height and weight progression in children. Nonetheless, deficiencies in cobalamin (B-12), calcium, and vitamin D have been identified as the main risks in poorly planned vegan diets. An earlier observational study of vegetarian children in Tennessee found their height and weight were slightly below US reference medians but still within normal percentiles, suggesting adequate growth.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.