Nutrient Intake from Fortified Foods and Supplements in Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivorous Participants Aged 6 to 18 Years in Germany: Results from the VeChi Youth Study
Introduction: The German market for dietary supplements and fortified foods is of considerable size, and many target-group-specific products, e.g., for vegans and vegetarians, are available. Growing sales volumes in recent years reflect the large demand for these products. However, the broad variety...
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2024-05-01
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| author | Joelina Dietrich Vanessa Keller Morwenna Fischer Stine Weder Ute Alexy Andreas Michalsen Alfred Längler Andreas Sputtek Markus Keller |
| author_facet | Joelina Dietrich Vanessa Keller Morwenna Fischer Stine Weder Ute Alexy Andreas Michalsen Alfred Längler Andreas Sputtek Markus Keller |
| author_sort | Joelina Dietrich |
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| description | Introduction: The German market for dietary supplements and fortified foods is of considerable size, and many target-group-specific products, e.g., for vegans and vegetarians, are available. Growing sales volumes in recent years reflect the large demand for these products. However, the broad variety and easy availability may lead to unfavorable use of these products. Methods: The VeChi Youth Study (2017–2019) was a cross-sectional study among vegan (VN), vegetarian (VG), and omnivorous (OM) participants aged 6 to 18 years (n = 401). Dietary data were collected from 3-day weighed dietary records (n = 390). The present analysis investigates nutrient intake from dietary supplements and unfortified/fortified foods. Results: VN had the highest dietary supplement use and the highest intake of fortified foods (both significantly different from OM; <i>p</i> < 0.0001 and <i>p</i> = 0.0342, respectively). Among VN and VG, vitamins B12 and D were the most frequently supplemented nutrients, while among OM, this was vitamin C. The mean nutrient intake from dietary supplements (excluding vitamins B12 and D) and fortified foods contributed up to 49% and 11% of the German reference values, respectively. Except for iron, VN had the highest mean intake of all nutrients from dietary supplements. Including unfortified and fortified foods as well as supplements, the mean intake in all three diet groups reached the reference values for vitamin B12, vitamin C, iron, and zinc but not for calcium and iodine. Discussion: Dietary supplements, and to a smaller extent fortified foods, increased the nutrient intake of the participants of the VeChi Youth Study. In order to achieve recommended intakes, the intake of dietary supplements and fortified foods was either unnecessary (e.g., vitamin C), not sufficiently effective (e.g., calcium and iodine), or effective (e.g., vitamin B12). Conclusions: Specific intake of dietary supplements is useful to improve the intake of critical nutrients in VN and VG diets, especially for vitamins B12 and D. In Germany, fortified foods appear to contribute only to a small extent to the intake of critical nutrients in VN and VG children and adolescents. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2504-3900 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-2cebf33b2aef4a328a10b790dde58d3a2025-08-20T01:48:58ZengMDPI AGProceedings2504-39002024-05-0191142910.3390/proceedings2023091429Nutrient Intake from Fortified Foods and Supplements in Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivorous Participants Aged 6 to 18 Years in Germany: Results from the VeChi Youth StudyJoelina Dietrich0Vanessa Keller1Morwenna Fischer2Stine Weder3Ute Alexy4Andreas Michalsen5Alfred Längler6Andreas Sputtek7Markus Keller8Research Institute for Plant-Based Nutrition, 35444 Biebertal, GermanyResearch Institute for Plant-Based Nutrition, 35444 Biebertal, GermanyDepartment of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Nutritional and Food Science, University of Bonn, 44225 Dortmund, GermanyResearch Institute for Plant-Based Nutrition, 35444 Biebertal, GermanyDepartment of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Nutritional and Food Science, University of Bonn, 44225 Dortmund, GermanyInstitute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité Universitätsmedizin, 14109 Berlin, GermanyFaculty of Health, Witten Herdecke University and Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke, 58313 Herdecke, GermanyMedical Laboratory Bremen GmbH, 28359 Bremen, GermanyResearch Institute for Plant-Based Nutrition, 35444 Biebertal, GermanyIntroduction: The German market for dietary supplements and fortified foods is of considerable size, and many target-group-specific products, e.g., for vegans and vegetarians, are available. Growing sales volumes in recent years reflect the large demand for these products. However, the broad variety and easy availability may lead to unfavorable use of these products. Methods: The VeChi Youth Study (2017–2019) was a cross-sectional study among vegan (VN), vegetarian (VG), and omnivorous (OM) participants aged 6 to 18 years (n = 401). Dietary data were collected from 3-day weighed dietary records (n = 390). The present analysis investigates nutrient intake from dietary supplements and unfortified/fortified foods. Results: VN had the highest dietary supplement use and the highest intake of fortified foods (both significantly different from OM; <i>p</i> < 0.0001 and <i>p</i> = 0.0342, respectively). Among VN and VG, vitamins B12 and D were the most frequently supplemented nutrients, while among OM, this was vitamin C. The mean nutrient intake from dietary supplements (excluding vitamins B12 and D) and fortified foods contributed up to 49% and 11% of the German reference values, respectively. Except for iron, VN had the highest mean intake of all nutrients from dietary supplements. Including unfortified and fortified foods as well as supplements, the mean intake in all three diet groups reached the reference values for vitamin B12, vitamin C, iron, and zinc but not for calcium and iodine. Discussion: Dietary supplements, and to a smaller extent fortified foods, increased the nutrient intake of the participants of the VeChi Youth Study. In order to achieve recommended intakes, the intake of dietary supplements and fortified foods was either unnecessary (e.g., vitamin C), not sufficiently effective (e.g., calcium and iodine), or effective (e.g., vitamin B12). Conclusions: Specific intake of dietary supplements is useful to improve the intake of critical nutrients in VN and VG diets, especially for vitamins B12 and D. In Germany, fortified foods appear to contribute only to a small extent to the intake of critical nutrients in VN and VG children and adolescents.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/91/1/429child nutritionfortified foodsdietary supplementsnutrient intakecritical nutrientsvegan diets |
| spellingShingle | Joelina Dietrich Vanessa Keller Morwenna Fischer Stine Weder Ute Alexy Andreas Michalsen Alfred Längler Andreas Sputtek Markus Keller Nutrient Intake from Fortified Foods and Supplements in Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivorous Participants Aged 6 to 18 Years in Germany: Results from the VeChi Youth Study Proceedings child nutrition fortified foods dietary supplements nutrient intake critical nutrients vegan diets |
| title | Nutrient Intake from Fortified Foods and Supplements in Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivorous Participants Aged 6 to 18 Years in Germany: Results from the VeChi Youth Study |
| title_full | Nutrient Intake from Fortified Foods and Supplements in Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivorous Participants Aged 6 to 18 Years in Germany: Results from the VeChi Youth Study |
| title_fullStr | Nutrient Intake from Fortified Foods and Supplements in Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivorous Participants Aged 6 to 18 Years in Germany: Results from the VeChi Youth Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutrient Intake from Fortified Foods and Supplements in Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivorous Participants Aged 6 to 18 Years in Germany: Results from the VeChi Youth Study |
| title_short | Nutrient Intake from Fortified Foods and Supplements in Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivorous Participants Aged 6 to 18 Years in Germany: Results from the VeChi Youth Study |
| title_sort | nutrient intake from fortified foods and supplements in vegan vegetarian and omnivorous participants aged 6 to 18 years in germany results from the vechi youth study |
| topic | child nutrition fortified foods dietary supplements nutrient intake critical nutrients vegan diets |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/91/1/429 |
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