Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-wq2xx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-20T00:10:30.369Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The dietary intake of a group of vegetarian children aged 7-11 years compared with matched omnivores

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Indira Nathan ,
Allan F. Hackett  and
Simon Kirby
Indira Nathan
Affiliation:
School of Education and Community Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, IM Marsh Campus, Barkill Road, Liverpool L17 6BD
Allan F. Hackett
Affiliation:
School of Education and Community Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, IM Marsh Campus, Barkill Road, Liverpool L17 6BD
Simon Kirby
Affiliation:
School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, IM Marsh Campus, Barkill Road, Liverpool L17 6BD
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

There is a lack of information concerning the diet of vegetarian children. The present study compared the dietary intake of fifty vegetarian children, aged 7–11 years, with fifty matched omnivores. Three 3 d food records were completed by each child at intervals of 6 months. The day after completing the record each child was interviewed to clarify food items and assess portion sizes. Food records were analysed using Microdiet (University of Salford). Finger-prick cholesterol and haemoglobin measurements were taken from a subsample of the group. Only one child's family was a member of the Vegetarian Society and almost one-third of vegetarian children had omnivorous parents (seventeen of fifty subjects). The energy intake (MJ) of the vegetarians was significantly lower than that of the omnivores, 7·6 (SD 1·05) and 8·0 (SD 1·36) respectively; there were no significant differences in Fe or fat intakes. For the vegetarians polyunsatnrated:saturated fat ratio (P:S 0·7 (SD 0·04)) and NSP intake (13·8 (SD 0·7) g/d) were significantly higher than those of the omnivores (P:S 0·5 (SD 0·02), NSP 10·3 (SD 0·4) g/d). There was no significant difference in cholesterol measurements (mmol/I) between the two groups: vegetarian 3·5 (SD 0·12), omnivores 3·7 (SD 0·15). The haemoglobin level (g/I) of the vegetarians (11·8 (SD 0·2)) was significantly below that of the omnivores (12·4 (SD 0·2)); 47·5% of the vegetarian children fell below the third percentile of the Dallman reference curves (Dallman & Siimes, 1979). The intake of the vegetarians more closely resembled current recommendations (Department of Health, 1991), although they need to be as aware as omnivores of the need to reduce fat intake. The haemoglobin levels of vegetarian children suggest that they need dietary advice to ensure optimal absorption of Fe.

Keywords

Dietary intakeVegetarian children
Type
Dietary intake of vegetarian and omnivorous children
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 75 , Issue 4 , April 1996 , pp. 533 - 544
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1996

References

REFERENCES

Adamson, A. (1993). Nutrient intakes (1990 with 1980) and place of purchase of foods (1990) by 11 to 12 year old Northumbrian children. PhD Thesis, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.Google Scholar
Adamson, A., Rugg-Gunn, A., Butler, T., Appleton, D. & Hackett, A. F. (1992). Nutritional intake, height and weight of 11–12-year-old Northumbrian children in 1990 compared with information obtained in 1980. British Journal of Nutrition 68, 543–563.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
American Dietetic Association (1988). Position of the American Dietetic Association: vegetarian diets. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 93 (11) 1317–1319.Google Scholar
Austin, R. P., Foy, G., Smith, M. J., Martin, I., Favell, H. & Davidson, D. C. (1991). Pilot study testing feasibility of screening for hyperlipidaemia at school entrance medical. Proceedings of the 63rd Annual Meeting of the British Paediatric Association, p. 71, G120 Abstr. London:British Paediatric Association.Google Scholar
Ballot, D., Baynes, R. D., Bothwell, T. H., Gillooly, M., MacFarlane, B. J., MacPhail, A. P., Lyons, G., Derman, D. P., Bezwoda, W. R., Torrance, J. D., Bothwell, J. E. & Mayet, F. (1987). The effects of fruit juices and fruits on the absorption of iron from a rice meal. British Journal of Nutrition 57, 331–343.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baynes, R. D. & Bothwell, T. H. (1990). Iron deficiency. Annual Review of Nutrition 10, 133–148.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beeson, W. L., Mills, P. K., Phillips, R. L., Andress, M. & Fraser, G. E. (1989). Chronic disease among seventh-day adventists a low-risk group. Cancer 64, 570–581.3.0.CO;2-4>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bingham, S. A. (1987). The dietary assessment of individuals, methods, accuracy, new techniques and recommendations. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews 57, 705–742.Google Scholar
British Dietetic Association (1995). Position Paper: Vegetarian Diets. Birmingham: BDA.Google Scholar
Curtis, J. A., Whay Kooh, S., Fraser, D. & Greenberg, M. L. (1983). Nutritional rickets in vegetarian children. Canadian Medical Association Journal 128, 150–152.Google ScholarPubMed
Dagnelie, P. C., Van Staveren, W. A., Vergote, F. J. V. R. A., Dingjan, P. G., Vanden Berg, H. & Hauvast, J. G. A. J. (1989). Increased risk of vitamin B12 and iron deficiency in infants on macrobiotic diets. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50, 818–824.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dallman, P. R. & Siimes, M. A. (1979). Percentile curves for hemoglobin and red cell volume in infancy and childhood. Journal of Pediatrics 94, 26–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Department of Health (1989). The Diets of British Schoolchildren. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 36. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Department of Health (1991). Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients For the United Kingdom. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 41. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Department of Health (1994). Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 46. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Draper, A., Lewis, J., Malhotra, N. & Wheeler, E. (1993). The energy and nutrient intakes of different types of vegetarian: a case for supplements? British Journal of Nutrition 69, 3–19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dwyer, J. T., Dietz, W. H., Andrews, E. M. & Sistind, R. M. (1982). Nutritional status of vegetarian children. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 35, 204–216.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dwyer, J. T., Dietz, W. H., Hass, G. & Suskind, R. (1979). Risk of nutritional rickets among vegetarian children. American Journal of Diseases in Childhood 133 134–140.Google ScholarPubMed
Gibson, R. S. (1994). Content and bioavailability of trace elements in vegetarian diets. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Suppl. 591223S–1232S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hackett, A. F., Rugg-Gunn, A. J. & Appleton, D. R. (1983). Use of dietary diary and interview to estimate the food intake of children. Human Nutrition: Applied Nutrition 37A, 293–300.Google Scholar
Hardinge, M. G. & Stare, F. J. (1954). Nutritional studies of vegetarians 1. Nutritional, physical and laboratory studies. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2, 73–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hellebostad, M., Markestad, T. & Seeger Halvorsen, K. (1985). Vitamin D deficiency rickets and vitamin B12 deficiency in vegetarian children. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica 74, 191–195.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holland, B., Unwin, I. D. & Buss, D. H. (1988). Third Supplement to McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 4th ed. Cereals and Cereal Products. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry.Google Scholar
Holland, B., Unwin, I. D. & Buss, D. H. (1989). Fourth Supplement to McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 4th ed. Milk Products and Eggs. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry.Google Scholar
Holland, B., Unwin, I. D. & Buss, D. H. (1991 a). Fifth Supplement to McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 4th edn. Vegetables, Herbs and Spices. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry.Google Scholar
Holland, B., Welch, A. A. & Buss, D. H. (1992 a). First Supplement to McCance and Widdowson' The Composition of Foods, 5th edn. Fruit and Nuts. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry.Google Scholar
Holland, B., Welch, A. A. & Buss, D. H. (1992 b). Second Supplement to McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 5th edn. Vegetable Dishes. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry.Google Scholar
Holland, B., Welch, A. A., Unwin, I. D., Buss, D. H., Paul, A. A. & Southgate, D. A. T. (1991 b). McCance and widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 5th edn. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry.Google Scholar
Jacobs, C. & Dwyer, J. T. (1988). Vegetarian children: appropriate and inappropriate diets. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48, 811–818.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kaplan, R. M. & Toshima, M. T. (1992). Does a reduced fat diet cause retardation in child growth? Preventative Medicine 21, 33–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leatherhead Food Research Association (1993). The UK Vegetarian Food Report. Industry and Market Reviews no. 15, pp. 133–135. Leatherhead: Leatherhead Food Research Association.Google Scholar
Maclean, W. C. & Graham, G. G. (1980). Vegetarianism in children. American Journal of Diseases in Childhood 134, 513–519.Google ScholarPubMed
Moynihan, P. J., Butler, T. J. & Rugg-Gunn, A. J. (1995). Determination of energy intake in 7–10 year old children: use of a food record and interview technique, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 53, 254A.Google Scholar
Nelson, M., Bakaliou, F. & Trivedi, A. (1994). Iron-deficiency anaemia and physical performance in adolescent girls from different ethnic backgrounds. British Journal of Nutrition 72, 427–433.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nelson, M., White, J. & Rhodes, C. (1993). Haemoglobin, ferritin and iron intakes in British children aged 12–14 years: a preliminary investigation. British Journal of Nutrition 70, 147–155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Registrar General (1991). Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, Classification of Occupations, 1991. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Roberts, Fulton J., Hutton, C. W. & Stitt, K. R. (1980). Preschool vegetarian children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 76, 360–365.Google Scholar
Sabate, J., Linsted, K. D., Harris, R. D. & Sanchez, A. (1991). Attained height of lacto-ovo vegetarian children and adolescents. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 45, 51–58.Google ScholarPubMed
Sanders, T. A. B. & Manning, J. (1992). The growth and development of vegan children. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 5, 11–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sandström, B. (1989). Dietary patterns and zinc supply. In Zinc in Human Biology, pp, 351–363 [Mills, C. F., editor]. New York: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schofield, W. N., Schofield, C. & James, W. P. T. (1985). Basal metabolic rate - review and prediction. Human Nutrition: Clinical Nutrition, Suppl. 391–96.Google Scholar
Smit-Vanderkooy, P. D. & Gibson, R. S. (1987). Food consumption patterns of Canadian children in relation to zinc and growth status. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 45, 609–616.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Specker, B. L., Black, A., Allen, L. & Morrow, F. (1990). Vitamin B12:low milk concentrations are related to low serum concentrations in vegetarian women and to methylmalonic aciduria in their infants. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 52, 1073–1076.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (1993). Base Manual V4.0. Chicago, Ill: SPSS Inc.Google Scholar
Tan, S. P., Wenlock, R. W. & Buss, D. H. (1985). Second Supplement to McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 4th ed. Immigrant Foods. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Thorogood, M., Carter, R., Benfield, L., McPherson, K. & Mann, J. I. (1987). Plasma lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in people with different diets in Britain. British Medical Journal 295, 351–353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thorogood, M., Mann, J., Appleby, P. & McPherson, K. (1994). Risk of death from cancer and ischaemic heart disease in meat and non-meat eaters. British Medical Journal 308, 1667–1670.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
University of Salford (1993). Microdiet 8.08. Salford: University of Salford.Google Scholar
Van Staveren, W. A. & Dagnelie, P. C. (1988). Food consumption, growth, and development of Dutch children fed on alternative diets. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48, 819–821.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vegetarian Society (1991). Trends in Vegetarianism Amongst Adults and Young People. Altrincham: Vegetarian Soceity.Google Scholar