2023-05-26 06:06:43
Vitamin B2 and carnitine are nutrients found primarily in animal products and are important for infants. Breastfeeding mothers who followed a vegan diet had no lower levels of vitamin B2 and carnitine in their breast milk than mothers who also ate meat.
A study by the University of Amsterdam, which the authors presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, dispelled the fear that a vegan diet in breastfeeding mothers might lead to deficiency symptoms in their infants. It shows that the breast milk of vegan mothers contained just as much vitamin B2 and carnitine as that of other mothers.
In the last four years, the number of vegans in Europe has doubled. The research group led by Dr. Hannah Juncker encouraged to examine the components of breast milk more closely. She explained: “Mother’s diet has a major impact on the nutrient composition of breast milk, which is important for child development. With the spread of vegan diets around the world, including among breastfeeding mothers, there are concerns regarding whether their milk has adequate nutrients. The results of our study suggest that vitamin B2 and carnitine concentrations in breast milk are not affected by consumption of a vegan diet.”
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is important for numerous metabolic pathways. A deficiency of the vitamin can lead to anemia (low blood count) and neurological problems in infants. Carnitine is involved in energy metabolism. A deficiency in infants can lead to low blood sugar levels and problems with heart and brain function. Although the concentration of carnitine in the blood of vegan mothers was lower, there was no difference in breast milk compared to mothers who ate animal products.
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