Growth parameters and IGF-1 axis biomarkers differ among omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan children

Whereas an increasing number of families choose a vegan or a vegetarian diet, the effects of a plant-based nutrition on height and BMI of children and their IGF-1- and IGFBP-3-serum concentrations as measures for growth and development are not entirely described.

7344 serum samples were investigated from 2,508 healthy participants in the age of 3 months to 19 years. Anthropometric measurements as well as IGF-1-, and IGFBP-3-serum concentrations were compared between dietary groups using optimal 1:3 pair matching (from the age of 10).

Vegan children were shorter than vegetarians after adjustment for pubertal status (β = -0.59, p = 0.006) but the height of vegetarians was not different from omnivores. Vegans showed lower BMI-SDS than vegetarians, most prominently in the TS-adjusted model (β = -1.01, p = 0.009). Omnivores had the highest BMI-SDS (0.32 SDS). Vegans had lower IGF-1 levels than vegetarians and omnivores in the age-adjusted model (ß = -0.52, p = 0.031). Vegetarians exhibited lower IGF-1 concentrations than omnivores in age- and TS- adjusted models. Vegans showed significantly lower IGFBP-3-SDS than vegetarians in TS-adjusted models (β = -0.75, p = 0.042). IGFBP-3 values were lower in vegetarians than in omnivores after adjustment for age (β = -0.18, p = 0.005).

Children following a vegan diet are significantly smaller and have a lower BMI than their peers. Both, vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with lower BMIs and lower IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 values. These findings highlight the potential relevance of dietary composition for growth childhood.

LIFE Child is registered with Clinical Trials.gov (NCT02550236) since October 2010. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02550236.