Vegan Diet in Small Children

Launched by UMEÅ UNIVERSITY · Jun 28, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of a vegan diet on young children, specifically those under 2 years old. Researchers want to understand how a vegan diet—one that excludes all animal products—affects children's growth and development compared to a mixed diet, which includes both plant and animal foods. The study will involve 30 children whose families have chosen a vegan diet and will compare them to another 30 children on a mixed diet. Over the course of the study, which runs from 2021 to 2026, researchers will collect information about what the children eat, their growth patterns, and their overall health through monthly dietary records, blood tests, and assessments of cognitive development.

To be eligible for this study, children must be less than 6 months old and have been exclusively breastfed for at least the first 4 months. They should also be healthy, born at term (between 37 and 42 weeks), and have a birth weight over 2500 grams. Families interested in participating can expect regular check-ups and assessments of their child's growth and development. This study aims to provide valuable information about the potential risks and benefits of vegan diets in early childhood, which can help guide future dietary recommendations for children.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Planned exclusive vegan diet or mixed diet respectively from 6 months of age until at least 2 years of life
• • Exclusively (\>90%) breastfed until 4 months
• • Born term (GE 37+0 - 41+6)
• • Single birth
• • Birth weight \>2500 g
• • Apgar score 5 min \> 5
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • \* A chronic disease affecting growth or neurodevelopment