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Iron Absorption in Vegetarian Children

NCT01489007 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 29

Last updated 2020-06-26

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Few areas are more controversial in pediatric nutrition than the role of a vegetarian diet for children. Advocates make strong health claims whereas others have expressed safety concerns, especially regarding iron nutrition. The frequency of vegetarianism among children is said to be rapidly increasing although clear data are not available. Surveys of children in the US age 8 to 18 reported in the media find that about 3-5% of children are lacto-ovo vegetarian, with some fish or chicken products in the diet. This is a substantial proportion that is very likely to increase over the next few years with essentially no nutrient metabolism data related to this population.

One of the principal concerns with a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, as preferred by many children, is the lack of heme iron in the diet. A key question that can be evaluated in children is whether iron status is in fact affected by a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP Pediatric Nutrition Handbook, 6th Edition, 2008), vegetarian diets can provide appropriate nutrition for children. Depending on the level of dietary restriction, fortified foods or supplements may be necessary during different life stages. In addition, strict vegetarian children may have slightly higher protein needs compared to non-vegetarian children due to decreased protein digestibility in certain plants. The AAP further recommends that children 4-8 years old consume a minimum of five servings per day of beans/nuts/seeds/eggs and six servings per day of calcium-rich foods.

To evaluate this issue, the investigators will use a stable isotope method to directly assess iron status. It is increasingly recognized that the ability to absorb iron when given with vitamin C is a highly accurate measurement of iron status and may be a true gold standard in this regard. In this planned study, investigators will be able to assess both reference dose iron absorption and standard biochemical markers of iron status in a group of lacto-ovo vegetarians and compare them with age- and gender-matched children on a non-vegetarian diet. These data can be important in determining if iron status is decreased in lacto-ovo vegetarians and will serve as a basis for future interventions and evaluations if a difference is found.

Conditions

  • Iron Absorption

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Baylor College of Medicine

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Steven Abrams, MD · Baylor College of Medicine

Eligibility

Min Age
4 Years
Max Age
10 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2012-01-31
Primary Completion
2014-12-31
Completion
2014-12-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01489007 on ClinicalTrials.gov