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Soy drinks and co. Vegetable milk reduces the growth of children
In the past, milk was the epitome of healthy nutrition. But now there is a dispute over whether milk is healthy or harmful. Herbal alternatives to cow's milk have been experiencing a veritable boom ever since. As Canadian scientists now report, the new trend in children may lead to unwanted effects.
Herbal alternatives to cow's milk
Some people rely on herbal milk alternatives, because they want to feed as possible without animal products. Others are more likely to have health issues or intolerances such as lactose intolerance. However, researchers from Canada now report that soy or cereal milk substitutes in children may cause unwanted effects.
Children who drink herbal milk substitutes are on average smaller than those who consume cow's milk. That's what researchers have discovered. (Image: Africa Studio / fotolia.com) Inhibited growth through herbal milk alternatives
According to a recent study by pediatrician Jonathon Maguire of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, drinking herbal substitutes may seem to have undesirable effects.
According to the hospital, children who drink cow's milk are taller than peers who consume the alternative products.
The results of the study have now been published in the American Journal of Nutrition.
Data from more than 5,000 children evaluated
For the investigation, the medical team at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto evaluated size data for a total of 5,034 children between the ages of two and six. 92 percent of the subjects drank cow's milk daily, 13 percent exclusively the plant variants.
The team came to the conclusion that the less cow milk it consumes, the smaller the child.
According to the study, three-year-olds who drank three cups of 250 ml milk from soy, almonds or cereals a day were on average 1.5 cm smaller than peers who consumed as many cups of cow's milk.
Children who received both cow's milk and herbal substitutes were also smaller on average than their peers.
Proteins and fats in cow's milk could be the cause
The reasons for the inhibited growth of milk substitute products were not investigated by the scientists in this study. But it is believed that fats and proteins in cow's milk play a role.
"The nutrient content of cow's milk is regulated in the United States and Canada, while the nutritional value of most non-cow's milk products is not," said Jonathon Maguire, according to the announcement from St. Michael's Hospital.
"The lack of regulation means that the nutrient content varies greatly from one non-cow's milk product to another, especially with regard to the amount of protein and fat," the expert adds.
According to Maguire, two cups of cow's milk would contain 16 grams of protein, which would cover 100 percent of the daily protein requirement for a three-year-old child.
On the other hand, two cups of almond milk beverage would typically only contain four grams of protein and could therefore only cover 25 percent of the daily protein requirement of a three-year-old.
Only if there are medical reasons
According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), babies should only be fed with plant-based milk alternatives in exceptional cases.
The President of the BfR, Professor Dr. Andreas Hensel, in a statement: "infant formula and follow-on formula from soy protein should be given only if there are medical reasons, and then only under medical supervision."
According to the German Society for Nutrition (DGE), infants should also be fed cow's milk at the earliest from the sixth month - in small quantities. (no, ad)