Vegan Diet DGE announces new positions

The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) is expected to publish a position paper on vegetarian and vegetarian diets this year. DGE President Prof. Helmut Heseker announced this to journalists in Hamburg at the specialist event "Vegetarian and vegan - just a trend?". "We can not jump on any hype, but now is the time for it," said the DGE president. The pressure to engage intensively with vegan nutrition and to take a stand was a result of growing scientific knowledge.
What is known: The professional society recommends a wholefood diet in the form of a mixed diet, which consists largely of vegetable and to a lesser extent of animal foods including fish and low meat. However, the position paper will also contain a new recommendation, says Heseker: "Even a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet is suitable as a long-term diet.".

Vegan diet: Now also the "officials" want to deal with the topic. Image: Africa Studio - fotolia

Vegan diet, on the other hand, carries the risk of malnutrition. Therefore, the DGE does not speak out for a purely plant-based diet. And: "For people in sensitive life stages such as pregnancy, lactation, infancy and childhood, a vegan diet is not strongly recommended due to the potentially critical nutrient supply associated with the high risk of nutritional deficiencies with possible permanent damage," says DGE.

However, regardless of these recommendations, the position paper takes into account the fact that a significant number of people eat vegan food. That's the second major news. The repositioning should also include concrete advice that helps vegans avoid nutrient deficiencies.

When exactly the position paper is issued, is not yet clear. "We're just fighting for words," said Heseker. From the German pediatricians come at some points considerable resistance.
(Eva Neumann, aid)