Vegan diet in young children

Vegetarian and vegan diets have recently become more and more prevalent in Europe and other western countries. In young children and adolescents, not only their weight and growth but also their psychomotor development is strongly influenced by the form and quality of their nutrition.

A diet that completely dispenses with products of animal origin can be potentially critical in terms of protein quality and inadequate energy, long-chain fatty acids, iron, zinc, vitamin D, iodine, calcium, and especially vitamin B12. Deficiencies in these nutrients can lead to severe and sometimes irreversible developmental disorders.

Pascal Muller explains in his presentation various aspects that need to be considered to support adequate nutrition, avoiding detrimental effects when feeding a child a vegan diet.