Nutrition and Environmental Impact of Vegetarian and Vegan Diets in UK Children, 2023

As plant-based (PB) diets become more common among UK children, understanding their nutritional adequacy and environmental impact is vital. This study assessed nutrient intake and dietary greenhouse gas emissions among children following omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan diets.
A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using three-day weighed food diaries from 39 UK children aged 2–12 years (omnivore n=15; and PB: vegetarian n=11; vegan n=13). Nutrients were analysed with and without supplementation using Nutritics software. GHGEs were calculated at the ingredient level (kgCO₂e/day) and grouped by Eatwell Guide food categories.
No dietary group met all nutrient reference values. Omnivores exceeded recommended intakes for saturated fat and free sugars while failing to meet the recommended intake for fibre, whereas PB children had intakes of these nutrients in the healthy range. PB diets were adequate in protein and vitamin B12 even in the absence of supplementation. Vegan children also met iron requirements from diet alone, whereas omnivore and vegetarian children did not meet iron targets without supplementation. Vitamin D intake was insufficient across all groups when supplements were excluded, with only vegan children achieving recommended levels through supplementation. Zinc requirements were met only by vegetarian children with the aid of supplements and were not met by vegan or omnivore children with or without supplementation. Iodine intake remained inadequate in vegan children even with supplementation. Mean daily GHGEs differed significantly between diet groups (p < 0.001): omnivores having the highest emissions, while vegans had the lowest emissions: 46% lower than omnivores, and 20% lower than vegetarians.
Well-planned PB diets can meet most nutrient needs in UK children when supported by fortified foods and supplements, while substantially reducing dietary GHGEs compared with omnivorous diets. Shifting away from animal protein and dairy provides the greatest opportunity for improving both nutritional quality and environmental sustainability.

随着植物基（plant-based, PB）膳食在英国儿童群体中愈发普及，明晰其营养充足性与环境影响至关重要。本研究针对遵循杂食、素食及纯素膳食的儿童群体，评估其营养摄入与膳食温室气体排放情况。
本研究采用横断面分析设计，收集了39名2~12岁英国儿童的3天称重食物日记数据（杂食组n=15；植物基膳食组含素食组n=11、纯素组n=13）。借助Nutritics软件，分别对补充营养剂与未补充营养剂场景下的营养素摄入情况进行分析。膳食温室气体排放量（GHGEs）以食材级别计算（单位：kgCO₂e/天），并依据Eatwell饮食指南（Eatwell Guide）的食品分类进行分组。
所有膳食组均未满足全部营养素参考值。杂食组的饱和脂肪与游离糖摄入量超出推荐标准，却未达到膳食纤维的推荐摄入量；而植物基膳食儿童的上述营养素摄入均处于健康区间。
即使不额外补充营养剂，植物基膳食也可满足蛋白质与维生素B₁₂的需求。纯素组儿童仅通过膳食即可满足铁元素的摄入需求，而杂食组与素食组儿童若不补充营养剂，则无法达到铁元素摄入目标。
若不考虑营养剂补充，所有组别儿童的维生素D摄入均不足；仅纯素组儿童通过补充营养剂即可达到推荐摄入量。仅素食组儿童借助营养剂补充可满足锌元素需求，无论是否补充营养剂，纯素组与杂食组儿童均无法达到锌元素摄入目标。即使补充营养剂，纯素组儿童的碘元素摄入仍未达标。
不同膳食组的日均膳食温室气体排放量存在显著差异（p < 0.001）：杂食组排放量最高，纯素组排放量最低——较杂食组低46%，较素食组低20%。
若借助强化食品与营养剂补充，规划合理的植物基膳食可满足英国儿童的绝大多数营养素需求，同时相较杂食膳食可大幅降低膳食温室气体排放。减少动物蛋白与乳制品的摄入，是同时提升营养质量与环境可持续性的最优路径。