Child Growth and Vegan Diet: What 10 Years Of Data Say

In a cohort of nearly 1.2 million infants followed for 24 months, children from vegan families showed similar growth to those from omnivorous and vegetarian families. There was a higher probability of low birth weight in the first few months among vegan infants, but this difference disappeared by age two. In contexts with access to healthcare and adequate guidance, family vegan diets appear compatible with healthy child growth.

The first 1000 days of life, which include gestation and the first two years, are considered one of the most important phases for human development. During this period, the nutrition of the mother and baby influences not only immediate growth but also the future risk of obesity, chronic diseases, and even brain development. Therefore, any dietary pattern adopted during this phase usually generates concern, especially when it involves dietary restrictions.

In recent years, plant-based diets, especially veganism, have become more popular in Western countries. Studies show that vegan diets can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and improve metabolic indicators in adults. However, when it comes to pregnancy and early childhood, questions arise: does a diet without animal products provide all the essential nutrients for the baby's proper growth?

The main concerns involve nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, iodine, vitamin D, calcium, and long-chain omega-3s, all important for neurological and physical development. Although smaller studies on the topic exist, until now there was a lack of comprehensive population data directly comparing the growth of babies from vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous families.

To answer this question, researchers analyzed data from nearly 1.2 million babies followed in public health centers in Israel between 2014 and 2023. Only children born at least at 32 weeks of gestation, without serious malformations, and with a birth weight above 1500 g were included. The babies were followed for up to 24 months of age. The family diet was recorded at least six months after birth, classifying families as vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous.

Dr. Kerem Avital. Author of the study. Credit: Kerem Avital/ SciTechDaily

Researchers primarily assessed the length (height) of babies over time. They also analyzed weight, head circumference (measurement of head size), and standardized indicators from the World Health Organization, called z-scores. These scores allow for comparison of a child's growth with international standards.

To analyze the data, statistical models that track growth trajectories over time and regressions that estimate the probability of low weight, short stature, or overweight were used.

Among the nearly 1.2 million babies analyzed, 98.5% belonged to omnivorous families, 1.2% to vegetarian families, and 0.3% to vegan families. The differences in length and weight during early childhood were very small between the groups, so small that they are not considered clinically relevant. The prevalence of short stature was virtually the same across all dietary patterns.

The figure shows the average growth of girls and boys from birth to 24 months, comparing three family dietary patterns: omnivorous (green), vegetarian (orange), and vegan (blue). Each graph presents, over time in months, measurements of length (height), weight, and head circumference (head size), separately for girls and boys. The three lines practically overlap in all graphs, indicating that physical growth is very similar between the groups. The small differences observed, especially a slightly lower weight in the first months among babies from vegan families, are subtle and decrease over time. Overall, the figure illustrates that, in this large population sample, growth patterns up to two years of age were very similar regardless of the type of family diet.

The only difference observed was that babies from vegan families were more likely to have low birth weight in the first months of life compared to omnivores. However, this difference decreased over time.

At 24 months, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding short stature, low weight, or overweight. The average weight, height, and head circumference were practically equivalent.

In general, the results suggest that, in a developed country with access to medical care and nutritional guidance, babies from vegan families show growth patterns similar to those from omnivorous families.

Although there is a slightly higher risk of low birth weight early in life, this effect does not persist until age two. The authors emphasize, however, that diet quality and nutritional monitoring are fundamental factors.

READ MORE:

Growth Trajectories in Infants From Families With Plant-Based or Omnivorous Dietary Patterns

Kerem Avital, Naomi Fliss-Isakov, Danit R. Shahar, Moran Blaychfeld-Magnazi, Sivan Ben-Avraham, Sigal Tepper, and Uri Hamiel

JAMA Network Open. 5 February 2026;9;(2):e2557798.

DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.57798

Abstract:

The safety of plant-based family diets, particularly vegan diets, during pregnancy and infancy is debated. Large population data on infant growth are scarce. To examine whether family dietary patterns (vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous) are associated with growth trajectories, weight, and length among infants. This retrospective cohort study used data collected from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2023, from a national network of public family care centers in Israel providing health and developmental surveillance for infants. Singleton births of infants gestational age 32 weeks or later without congenital malformations or birth weight less than 1500 g were followed up for 24 months. The data were analyzed between November 17, 2024, and December 6, 2025. The family diet as recorded at least 6 months after delivery. The primary outcome was infant length. Secondary outcomes included weight, head circumference, stunting (length-for-age z score less than –2), underweight (weight-for-length z score less than –2), and overweight (weight-for-length z score >2). Growth trajectories were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models, and nutritional status at birth, early infancy (ie, first 60 days of life), and 24 months were analyzed using logistic regression. Among 1 198 818 infants (mean [SD] gestational age, 39.2 [1.5] weeks; 53.2% male), 98.5% were from omnivorous households; 0.3% from vegan households, and 1.2% from vegetarian households. Differences in early-infancy length and length-for-age z scores among dietary groups were small (World Health Organization z score ≤0.3), and stunting prevalence was similar across groups (from 7.0% in the vegan and vegetarian groups to 7.1% in the omnivorous group), while underweight was more common in infants in the vegan vs omnivorous groups (adjusted odds ratio, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.15-1.63]). By age 24 months, stunting prevalence declined to 3.1%, 3.4%, and 3.9% in omnivore, vegetarian, and vegan groups, respectively, with no significant differences among the groups. Underweight and overweight were also low, with no differences by dietary group at age 24 months. Mean differences for weight, length, and head circumference were clinically minor (World Health Organization z score <0.2) and diminished further in adjusted longitudinal models. In this cohort study, infants from vegan households had growth patterns similar to those from omnivorous households, with a higher odds of early underweight that decreased by age 24 months. In the context of developed countries, these findings seem reassuring. Further research should examine vegan diet quality and the impact of nutritional counseling during pregnancy and infancy in supporting optimal infant development.