Do Vegetarian Diets Affect Growth in Children? What the Scientific Data Says
Recent research suggests that both vegetarian and vegan diets can support adequate growth in children, though careful attention to nutritional intake is particularly important for those following vegan diets. This is a growing area of interest as more families explore plant-based eating patterns, and understanding the impact on child development is crucial for public health.
A cross-sectional study conducted among 95 Czech families – 47 vegan, 23 vegetarian, and 25 omnivore – examined the growth, cardiovascular health, bone turnover, iodine levels, and overall micronutrient status of 187 adults and 142 children. The findings, published in Nature on November 22, 2025, revealed no significant differences in growth characteristics among the children in the three dietary groups.
Researchers observed that vegan children exhibited the most favorable cardiometabolic indices, including low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels, a trend similarly seen in vegan adults. Comparable bone turnover indices were observed across all groups, although vitamin D levels were generally highest and urinary phosphate levels lowest in those following a vegan diet.
Whereas vegan children showed lower urinary iodine levels, this did not correlate with differences in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels compared to children in the other dietary groups. The study also highlighted familial clustering of certain health markers, such as height, uric acid, and levels of various vitamins and minerals, suggesting a genetic component to nutritional status.
A separate review of research in high-income settings, published in Nutrients in March 2024, indicated that vegetarian children had lower total and LDL cholesterol levels in two studies. Although, the review noted there was no data available on the bone health of vegan children from the research period examined.
According to a report from Nutrition from December 4, 2023, current studies demonstrate that both vegetarian and vegan diets can ensure sufficient growth, particularly with careful planning. These findings underscore the importance of informed dietary choices and potential monitoring for families adopting plant-based eating patterns.
