The nutritional limitations of plant-based beverages in infancy and childhood

Abstract

The nutritional limitations of plant-based beverages in infancy and childhood Limitaciones nutricionales de las bebidas vegetales en la lactancia y la infancia ResumenLa lactancia materna, la fórmula infantil y la leche de vaca son alimentos básicos en la nutrición del lactante. Sin embargo, cada vez son reemplazados, total o parcialmente, por bebidas vegetales. Se ha revisado la composición de 164 bebidas vegetales disponibles en España a partir del etiquetado nutricional del envase y de las páginas web de los fabricantes. Se ha comparado con la composición de la leche de vaca y de la fórmula infantil. Además, se ha revisado la patología nutricional asociada con el consumo de bebidas vegetales en lactantes y niños mediante una búsqueda bibliográfica en Medline y EMBASE desde 1990 basada en las palabras clave "plant-based beverages" o "rice beverages" o "almond beverages" o "soy beverages" y "infant" o "child". Se describe la composición nutricional de 54 bebidas de soja, 24 bebidas de arroz, 22 bebidas de almendras, 31 bebidas de avena, 6 bebidas de coco, 12 bebidas misceláneas y 15 bebidas mixtas. Se han publicado al menos 30 casos de patología nutricional en niños asociadas con un consumo casi exclusivo de bebidas vegetales. Se ha observado una asociación característica entre la bebida de soja y el raquitismo, la bebida de arroz y el kwashiorkor, y la bebida a base de almendras y la alcalosis metabólica. La calidad nutricional de las bebidas vegetales es menor que la leche de vaca y la fórmula infantil, por lo que no son una alternativa nutricional. El uso predominante o exclusivo de estas bebidas en la alimentación infantil puede conducir a graves riesgos nutricionales. En el caso de una alimentación no exclusiva con estas bebidas, el pediatra debe ser consciente de los riesgos y limitaciones nutricionales de estas bebidas para complementar sus deficiencias con otros alimentos. AbstractBreastfeeding, infant formula and cow's milk are basic foods in infant nutrition. However, they are being increasingly replaced either totally or partially by plant-based beverages. The composition of 164 plant-based beverages available in Spain was reviewed based on the nutritional labeling of the package and the manufacturers' webpages. This was compared to the composition of cow's milk and infant formula. In addition, the nutritional disease associated with consumption of plant-based beverages in infants and children was reviewed by means of a literature search in Medline and Embase since 1990 based on the key words "plant-based beverages" or "rice beverages" or "almond beverages" or "soy beverages" and "infant" or "child". The nutritional composition of 54 soy beverages, 24 rice beverages, 22 almond beverages, 31 oat beverages, 6 coconut beverages, 12 miscellaneous beverages and 15 mixed beverages was described. At least 30 cases of nutritional disease in children associated with nearly exclusive consumption of plant-based beverages have been published. A characteristic association has been observed between soy beverage a...

Introduction and Executive Summary of the Supplement, Role of Milk and Dairy Products in Health and Prevention of Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases: A Series of Systematic Reviews

“…Currently, there is growing skepticism in the population about the beneficial health effects of dairy products, which translates into an increased intake of vegetable drinks derived from soy, rice, almonds, or oats. Generally, these vegetable drinks are of low nutritional density, contain proteins of relatively lower biological value, and have a low micronutrient content and large amounts of added sugars (16, 19). From the nutritional point of view, it should be noted that vegetable drinks and cow's milk are totally different foods and, consequently, the established recommendations for dairy products cannot be extrapolated to plant-based beverages (16).…”

“…From the nutritional point of view, it should be noted that vegetable drinks and cow's milk are totally different foods and, consequently, the established recommendations for dairy products cannot be extrapolated to plant-based beverages (16). Vitoria (19) recently reviewed the composition of 164 vegetable drinks used in infant and childhood feeding and concluded that the nutritional quality of vegetable drinks is lower than that of cow's milk and infant formulas. Therefore, vegetable drinks are not an adequate nutritional alternative, and their predominant or exclusive use can lead to serious nutritional risks in infancy and early childhood.…”

“…Therefore, vegetable drinks are not an adequate nutritional alternative, and their predominant or exclusive use can lead to serious nutritional risks in infancy and early childhood. In fact, Vitoria indicates at least 30 published cases of children with nutritional pathology associated with almost exclusive consumption of vegetable drinks (19).…”

A Case of Hyponatremia-induced Seizures in an Infant Secondary to Water Intoxication from the Use of Almond Milk

“…Most commonly, soya, rice, almond and sweet chestnut milk are used as an alternative to dairy products. There have been many cases of parents substituting these plant-based milk products for formula in the first year of life for various reasons [7-9]. Parents may do this for financial reasons or even to treat a presumed milk allergy and the marketing behind these products has mislead parents to believe that these plant-based beverages are safe alternatives.…”

Alternatives to Cow’s Milk-Based Infant Formulas in the Prevention and Management of Cow’s Milk Allergy

“…It has been reported that parents and caretakers are increasingly feeding infants and young children with such plant-based beverages as alternatives to cow’s milk-based products, including as substitutes for cow’s milk-based infant formulas [ 336 , 337 ]. The quality of plant-based alternatives varies and may not necessarily address the nutritional requirements of infants and small children [ 144 , 331 , 333 , 338 ]. Thus, it appears that there is no health benefit of plant-based alternatives to cow’s milk-based products in small children but rather a potential health risk related to frequent consumption of these plant-based alternatives if the child’s diet is not properly managed [ 331 , 338 ].…”