Vegetarian diet and children – complications and their prevention

The article presents some facts about vegetarian diet, its influence on child develop­ment, possible complications and their preven­tion. A vegetarian diet, if properly selected, can meet all the requirements of the growing child. A strictly vegetarian (vegan) diet can cause vi­tamin B₁₂ deficiency with serious neurological and haematological disturbances. To prevent vi­tamin B₁₂ deficiency we should recommend the inclusion of algae (Chlorella, Spirulina) in vegan diet. These algae are the most important non-ani­mal source of vitamin B₁₂.