Reacción a "A large study analyzes the benefits and risks of vegetarian and vegan diets in children"

Overall, this meta-analysis is a solid and well-conducted study. It includes nearly 50,000 children across 59 studies from multiple countries, providing a broad and reasonably robust picture of vegetarian and vegan diets in childhood. However, since most of the evidence is observational and cross-sectional, the associations should be interpreted with caution — the study cannot establish causality.

The findings are consistent with what we already know: vegetarian and vegan diets can be healthy during childhood, but only if they are carefully planned and appropriately supplemented. The overall pattern is clear: higher intakes of fiber and plant-derived vitamins, lower intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol, and a more favorable cardiometabolic profile. This aligns with prior evidence on healthy dietary patterns.

The study adds important nuance: even when average nutrient intakes appear within recommended ranges, body stores of iron, vitamin D, and, in vegan children, vitamin B12, tend to be lower, reinforcing the need for systematic supplementation and regular monitoring.

There are several limitations. The included studies vary widely in size, quality, dietary assessment methods, and reporting of supplement use. Many have small sample sizes, and supplement intake is inconsistently documented. Therefore, the findings should be viewed as informative but not definitive.

Regarding the lower energy intake observed in many vegetarian and vegan children: this is reflected in a slightly leaner growth pattern, with small differences in height or weight, but generally still within normal pediatric ranges. Current evidence does not show clinically meaningful growth impairment when diets are well designed and supplemented. In settings with limited access to fortified foods or professional guidance, however, the risk could be greater.

In summary, a vegetarian or vegan diet can support healthy growth in children, but it is not automatically nutritionally adequate. It requires dietary variety, careful planning, and mandatory vitamin B12 supplementation, along with vitamin D for most children, and special attention to calcium, iron, and zinc, particularly in vegan diets. With proper support, children can grow normally and develop healthier lifelong eating habits.