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Multiple nutritional deficiencies in infants from a strict vegetarian community
American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
|February 1, 1979
Summary
Vegan infants in a religious community suffered severe malnutrition, including rickets and vitamin B12 deficiency, due to inadequate diets. While diet modifications helped, the community still refused regular vitamin B12 supplementation for infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- A new vegan religious community emerged with unique infant feeding practices.
- Exclusive or near-exclusive breastfeeding was followed by extremely low caloric-density preparations.
- These practices raised concerns about potential nutritional deficiencies in infants.
Observation:
- Four infants presented with severe health issues, including profound protein-caloric malnutrition.
- Radiographic evidence revealed severe rickets and osteoporosis in the affected infants.
- Multiple vitamin deficiencies, notably vitamin B12, were identified in all four infants.
Findings:
- Infant diets were critically deficient in essential nutrients, leading to severe malnutrition and bone disease.
- One infant tragically died, while the other three recovered after hospitalization and dietary intervention.
- The community accepted modified vegetarian diets but continued to refuse regular vitamin B12 supplementation for infants.
Implications:
- Highlights the critical importance of adequate nutrition, including vitamin B12, for infant development, even within specific dietary philosophies.
- Underscores the need for nutritional education and support for communities with restrictive diets.
- Suggests potential public health interventions to address nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable infant populations.