Nutritionists will warn that vegan diets can be damaging to children's health

Number of vegans has risen 360 per cent in the past 10 years to 542,000 people

Experts say a lack of nutrients can cause 'irreversible damage' and malnutrition

Fashionable vegan diets can be damaging to children's health, nutritionists will warn today.

Vegan diets, devoid of meat, fish or dairy, can lead to 'devastating' health effects and, in the worst cases, death.

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Children following vegan diets are 'leaner and smaller' than children who eat meat – or even those on vegetarian diets which allow milk, eggs and cheese.

But veganism is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. The number of vegans has risen 360 per cent in the past ten years to 542,000 people – now 1 per cent of the UK population – from just 150,000 in 2007.

Vegan diets, devoid of meat, fish or dairy, (pictured) can lead to 'devastating' health effects

Gwyneth Paltrow

Madonna

It is not known how many child vegans there are, but based on the adult figures it could be as many as 110,000 under-16s.

Experts note that vegan diets can be perfectly healthy – but they can cause serious health problems if pursued without precautions.

A lack of nutrients such as vitamin B12, calcium, zinc and high-quality protein can lead to 'irreversible damage' to children's nervous systems or malnutrition, experts warn.

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Professor Mary Fewtrell of University College London will issue the warning today at the meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition in Prague.

Professor Fewtrell, the chairman of ESPGHAN's nutrition committee will say: 'It is difficult to ensure a healthy and balanced vegan diet in young infants. The risks of getting it wrong can include irreversible cognitive damage and, in the extreme, death.

Actress Alicia Silverstone is another celebrity mother who is known for giving her children vegan food

'Our advice is that if parents pursue a vegan diet for their child, they must seek and strictly follow medical and dietary advice.'

The greatest hazard, she warns, is of vitamin B12 deficiency which 'can have devastating effects' on the brain, nervous system and blood.

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GLUTEN-FREE DIET IS PACKED WITH FAT AND SUGAR BUT NO PROTEIN, STUDY SAYS Gluten-free substitute foods are bad for your waistline since they contain so much sugar and fat with scant protein, experts warn. Millions of people swap normal bread for gluten-free versions in a bid to stay trim. In fact, many parents have put their own children on this trendy diet, following the example of celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Gisele Bundchen and Alicia Silverstone. But researchers from the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition warn that the vast majority of gluten-free products are loaded with fattening substances, and miss out the benefits. The study, published on Wednesday night, calls for an overhaul of the lucrative market to incorporate more nutritional value, without driving up the risk of obesity. The researchers assessed 654 gluten-free products, which were compared with 655 gluten-containing products. They found the gluten-free products were marketed as substitutes, but did not offer a similar nutritional value. ESPGHAN expert and lead researcher, Dr Joaquim Calvo Lerma, explains: 'As more and more people are following a gluten-free diet to effectively manage coeliac disease, it is imperative that foods marketed as substitutes are reformulated to ensure that they truly do have similar nutritional values. 'This is especially important for children, as a well-balanced diet is essential to healthy growth and development.'

Too little protein can lead to stunted growth while too much fibre – another concern in vegan diets – can cause children to feel full too quickly, stopping them getting enough of other nutrients in their food.

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Also speaking at the conference, Professor Myriam Van Winckel will add: 'The more restricted the diet of the child, the greater the risk of deficiency and this is by far highest in vegan children.

'Vegan mothers who breastfeed also need to be aware that their children can develop vitamin B12 deficiency between two and 12 months because of the lack of reserves in their body at birth, even if the mother is not showing any signs of deficiency herself.'

The nutritionists said that 'parents can be misled by milk supplements'. Rice milk, almond milk and soy milk have a lower 'nutritional value' than dairy milk and as such should not be called milks, but 'drinks', the researchers warn. A lack of calcium can lead to the bone disease rickets in children who consume 'large amounts of non-supplemented soy drink'.

The nutritionists said varied vegetarian diets that allow milk or eggs are 'generally safe' – and have health benefits such as lower levels of fat, more antioxidants and less risk of being overweight.

Heather Russell, a dietician at the Vegan Society, said it was recognised that certain nutrients need 'special attention' when following a vegan diet, such as B12 and also iodine. Protein can be found in beans, chickpeas, lentils, soya mince and tofu.

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She added: 'The British Dietetic Association and the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recognise that well-planned vegan diets can support healthy living in people of all ages.'