Growth and nutrition of Chinese vegetarian children in Hong Kong

Leung, Stephen C. H.; Lee, Rhy; Sung, Ryt; Hy, Luo; Kam, CW; Yuen, MP; Hjelm, Michelle; Sh, Lee

doi:10.1046/j.1440-1754.2001.00647.x

Cited by 36 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The above results are contrasted by those from a British study in which about 47.5% of vegetarian children had Hb values indicative of a deficiency [16]. Similarly, when ferritin was used as a marker of iron status, the deficiency prevalence ranged from 4.3% among a sample composed of children and adolescents, 4-14 years old, from China to 73% among children younger than 3 years old from Great Britain [9,18]. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…In one study, Hb below the 3rd percentile of the Dallman reference curves was used as a marker of deficiency [16]. Similarly, the cutoff criteria for serum ferritin included <10.0 µg/L [9,17], <12.0 µg/L [9,11], <15.0 mg/L [18], <15.0 ng/mL [13,19], <12.0 µg/L for 1-3 years and <15.0 µg/L for >3 years [10], <15.0 µg/L for girls and <20.0 µg/L for boys [15]. The same inconsistencies were found for other markers of iron status.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lowest prevalence of deficiency was reported among Chinese vegetarian children, with 4.3% having ferritin concentration below 10 mg/L and 8.5% having ferritin concentration lower than 15 mg/L [18]. High prevalence of deficiency was reported among vegetarian children and adolescents from Canada (29.1% for lacto-ovo-vegetarians and 43.8% for semi-vegetarians), Great Britain (73% for ferritin <10 µg/L and 64% for ferritin <12 µg/L), and Poland (36.4% for ferritin <12 µg/L for children 1-3 years and <15 µg/L for children >3 years of age) [10,11,15].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Iron Status of Vegetarian Children: A Review of Literature

Pawlak

Bell²

2017

Ann Nutr Metab

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Background: Iron is considered a nutrient of concern for vegetarians. In children, inadequate iron status may lead to anemia and poor growth. Summary: Thirteen original manuscripts met the inclusion criteria. Various biochemical markers of iron status, such as hemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin, were used. Seven of the 13 studies reported the prevalence of iron deficiency separately for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Five out of 7 showed a higher prevalence of iron deficiency among the vegetarian participants, while the other 2 showed a higher prevalence of iron deficiency among non-vegetarians. A wide range of iron deficiency prevalence, from 4.3% of vegetarian participants in one study to 73% having ferritin <10 µg/L in another study, was found. Hb data showed almost as wide variations from 0% of children having Hb values lower than 11 g/dL to 47.5% having Hb values below 3rd percentile. Key Messages: The prevalence of iron deficiency among vegetarian children varies considerably from one study to another. The wide variation in the prevalence of inadequate iron status was consistent for studies from industrial and developing countries. The physiological significance of low iron status among vegetarians reported in some studies is unknown.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Iron Status of Vegetarian Children: A Review of Literature

Pawlak

Bell²

2017

Ann Nutr Metab

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“…The prevalence of anaemia ranged from 8 % to 40 % in different regions (51,(75)(76)(77)(78) (Table 6). A survey reported the variation in the prevalence of anaemia to be 7?5-32?9 % among students aged 9-11 years in Shaanxi Province (79) .…”

Section: Ironmentioning

confidence: 99%

The phenomenon of micronutrient deficiency among children in China: a systematic review of the literature

Wong

Chan

Chui

et al. 2013

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: The present study aimed to review the literature on micronutrient deficiency and other factors influencing a deficiency status among children living in China. Design: A systematic review was performed to analyse the literature. Setting: Studies were identified through a search of PubMed and secondary references. Subjects: Children living in China aged less than 18 years. Results: Sixty-one articles were included. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency decreased to approximately 10 % in 1995-2009. It increased with age but no significant difference was found between genders. The prevalence of thiamin and vitamin B 12 deficiency was 10?5 % in Yunnan and 4?5 % in Chongqing provinces, respectively. Higher vitamin D deficiency rates were seen in spring and winter. The incidence of bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency was 3?3 % in 1998-2001 and more prevalent in rural areas. Both iodine deficiency and excess iodine intake were observed. Goitre rates were reported in Tibet, Jiangxi, Gansu and Hong Kong (3?5-46 %). Anaemia rates ranged from 20 % to 40 % in 2007-2011. High Se deficiency rates were found in Tibet, Shaanxi and Jiangsu. High Zn deficiency rates were also found (50-70 %) in 1995-2006. Few studies reported Ca deficiency rates (19?6-34?3 %). The degrees of deficiency for vitamin A, vitamin B 12 , Fe and Zn were more substantial in rural areas compared with urban areas. Conclusions: The prevalence of micronutrient deficiency rates varied. Socioeconomic status, environmental factors and the Chinese diet may influence micronutrient deficiency. Public health policies should consider implementing programmes of supplementation, food fortification and nutrition education to address these deficiencies among Chinese children.

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“…It has also been assumed that vegetarian diets sustain adequate growth and development among children and adolescents. However, there are surprisingly limited number of research studies that support these assumptions [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Most of these studies were cross sectional, few of them included vegan children and few utilized growth charts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetarian children and adolescents’ anthropometric characteristics do not significantly differ from their non-vegetarian counterparts

Roman¹,

Ding²,

Sovyanhadi³

2017

Integr Food Nutr Metab

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play a key role in fetal and child growth and development and thus, may impact anthropometric parameters of both children and adolescents.The goal of the current study was to assess anthropometric differences among children adhering to different dietary patterns. Our hypothesis was that the rate of obesity among vegetarian children and adolescents will be statistically significantly lower than the rate among non-vegetarian children and adolescents and that this will be the only statistically significant difference in the anthropometry of these two groups. The specific objectives included: 1) compare anthropometric data using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts [11], including length-for-age, weight-for-age and BMI-for-age among children and adolescents adhering to different dietary preferences (vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian); 2) to evaluate the percentage of the sample in different percentile categories (e.g. <5 th percentile, at and/or above the 95 th percentile) among vegetarian and non-vegetarian children; and 3) assess the weight status and obesity prevalence among children in different dietary group using BMI-forage growth charts, defined as BMI-for-age at or above 95 th percentile. Methods and materials Data collectionThe research protocol was approved by the Institutional Review AbstractApproximately 7% of American children and adolescents adhere to vegetarian diets. The few studies that assessed anthropometry among vegetarian children and adolescents were cross sectional, few included vegan children and a handful utilized growth charts. Available data is outdated and is limited to a handful of studies. The goal was to compare anthropometric characteristics of vegetarian with non-vegetarian children and adolescents. We hypothesized that the rate of obesity among vegetarian children and adolescents will be statistically significantly lower than the rate among their non-vegetarian counterparts and that there will be no statistically significant difference in any other anthropometric characteristics among these two groups. CDC's growth charts were utilized to assess anthropometric data of 218 vegetarians with 308 non-vegetarian children and adolescents. There was no statistically significant difference between the rate of vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian children below the 5 th percentile length-for-age (14.1% vs. 10.4% for non-vegetarian girls; Chi square=0.52, df=1, p=0.4708; and 10.2% vs. 4.7%; Chi square=1.84, df=1, p=0.175 for vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian boys). No statistically significant differences were found between the dietary groups in regard to percentages of obese children, defined as BMI-for-age ≥95 th percentile, (9.5% vs. 12.7% for vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian girls; Chi-square=0.34, df=1, p=0.5598; and 14% vs. 15.9% for vegetarian vs. nonvegetarian boys; Chi-square=1.03, df=1, p=0.3102). Vegetarian children and adolescents' anthropometric characteristics do not significantly differ from their non-vegetarian counterparts.

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Growth and nutrition of Chinese vegetarian children in Hong Kong

Abstract: A Hong Kong Chinese vegetarian diet appears healthy, providing adequate iron and vitamin B12 nutrition, but the prevalence of obesity was high.

Cited by 36 publications

References 23 publications

Iron Status of Vegetarian Children: A Review of Literature

Iron Status of Vegetarian Children: A Review of Literature

The phenomenon of micronutrient deficiency among children in China: a systematic review of the literature

Vegetarian children and adolescents’ anthropometric characteristics do not significantly differ from their non-vegetarian counterparts

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