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Breastfeeding vegans need a lot of vitamin B12
Vegan diet is trendy. Those who completely abstain from animal products on their diet should take care to absorb all important nutrients in sufficient quantities. This is especially important for breastfeeding - and pregnant women - women, they have an increased need for vitamin B12.
Vegan diet is trendy
More and more people are eating vegan food. For some, it is moral and ethical reasons that cause them to consume no animal products, while others are more concerned with the health aspect. Typical civilization diseases such as obesity, diabetes or high blood lipid levels are rare in vegans. However, you must be more careful to take in all the important nutrients in sufficient quantities. This is especially important for lactating vegans.
Nursing mothers who eat vegan have an increased need for vitamin B12. They should contact their pediatrician for a pediatrician who can check regularly if the baby is sufficiently provided with the essential vitamin. (Image: juan_aunion / fotolia.com) Almost only in animal products contained nutrient
People who eat vegan should inquire about which foods contain the most nutrients and make sure that they consume enough calcium, vitamin D, iodine, and especially vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 is considered to be a critical nutrient in a purely plant-based diet as it is naturally found almost exclusively in animal products such as meat, fish, milk, eggs and offal. Nursing mothers - as well as pregnant women - have an increased need for this vitamin.
The Association of Paediatricians (BVKJ) advises women who eat vegan to approach a pediatrician with their offspring.
This could regularly check "whether the baby is sufficiently supplied with vitamin B12. In most cases, it is enough for the mother to take the vitamin in addition, "said BVKJ Federal Press Spokesman. Hermann Josef in an article on the website "kinderaerzte-im-netz.de".
Vitamin B12 supply via dietary supplements
According to the experts, a vitamin B12 deficiency in the infant often only becomes noticeable after about four to six months, for example due to growth disorders, anemia, muscle weakness and altered brain development or insufficient head growth.
If the defect is not detected in time, permanent damage may occur.
To prevent a vitamin B12 deficiency, vegans should, according to nutrition experts on appropriate dietary supplements, since the supply of the vitamin is not possible over conventional foods.
The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) also writes in its position on the vegan diet: "In a purely plant-based diet is a sufficient supply of some nutrients is not possible or only with difficulty."
"The most critical nutrient is vitamin B12," say the experts. "For pregnant women, nursing women, infants, children and adolescents, a vegan diet is not recommended by the DGE." (Ad)