Case report of nutritional rickets in an infant following a vegan diet

Arch Pediatr. 2020 May;27(4):219-222. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2020.03.008. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Abstract

We report the case of a 13-month-old infant who was referred to the pediatric emergency department because of psychomotor regression with four bone fractures due to nutritional rickets. The reason was prolonged breastfeeding from a vegetarian mother followed by a vegan diet for the infant after weaning. Rickets is one of the many nutritional deficiencies that could affect infants fed vegan or vegetarian diets. These diets are a public health concern requiring adapted information that suggests alternative formulas made from rice or soy proteins and adapted supplementation after weaning.

Keywords: Fracture; Nutritional deficiency; Rickets; Vegan; vegetarian.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Breast Feeding
  • Diet, Vegan / adverse effects*
  • Diet, Vegetarian / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Rickets / diagnosis*
  • Rickets / etiology
  • Weaning