- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT06669819
Influencing a Vegan Diet and the Intake of Dietary Supplements During Pregnancy and Childhood
Can Dietary Supplements Be Linked to a Vegan Diet and Health Risk Modulation During Vegan Pregnancy, Infancy and Early Childhood
The main goals of the exploratory, cross-sectional survey among vegans are to reveal influencing factors, sources of information gathering, reasons for choosing certain dietary supplements of pregnant vegans and parents, difficulties in administering dietary supplements to children, and the compliance of dietary supplements of vegans, because there is no data available yet. Results serve as a starting point for comprehensive information provision for surveyed vegans and provide insight into the nutritional knowledge of vegans. The advisory role of the medical experts is essential to provide vegans with reliable information on a balanced vegan diet and dietary supplements. The opinion of medical experts has a decisive influence on the health of vegans. For this reason the content of their advice will be assessed.
The main questions the study aims to answer are: Do vegan pregnant women and parents know about possible nutrient deficiencies during pregnancy and childhood and who do they turn to for information about nutritional supplements? What is the quality of the information received?
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Detailed Description
Study Type
Enrollment (Estimated)
Contacts and Locations
Study Contact
- Name: Wolfgang Huber-Schneider
- Phone Number: 00436767773179
- Email: a0225229@unet.univie.ac.at
Study Contact Backup
- Name: Karl-Heinz Wagner
Study Locations
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Vienna, Austria, 1090
- Recruiting
- University of Vienna - Department of Nutritional Sciences
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Contact:
- Wolfgang Huber-Schneider
- Phone Number: 00436767773179
- Email: a0225229@unet.univie.ac.at
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Contact:
- Wolfgang Huber-Schneider
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Contact:
- Karl-Heinz Wagner, Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr.
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Contact:
- Ingrid Kiefer, Univ.-Doz. Mag. Dr.
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Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
- Older Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Sampling Method
Study Population
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
A. For vegans:
- Females/gender-diverse participants (ages 18 and over) who follow/followed a vegan diet during their pregnancy/pregnancies (If there is/was more than one pregnancy, at least during one of their pregnancies)
- Parents (females/males/gender-diverse - ages 18 and over) who feed/fed their child/children (If there is more than one child, at least one of them) a vegan diet within the age of 0-5 years
- Vegan mothers/gender-diverse participants (ages 18 and over) who breastfeed/breastfed their infant(s)/child(ren). Answering questions regarding their infant(s)/child(ren) up to an age of 5 years will be included
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women/gender diverse participants/parents (f/m/d) who make rare exceptions to their vegan diet and a vegan diet of their child(ren) - up to an age of 5 years. Inclusion in the survey depends on the frequency of exceptions → determined through questions/given answers within the survey. Participants that consume animal products maximum twice a month will be included - hence participants who do not make vegetarian or pescetarian exceptions more than twice a month will be included 5.Confirmation of the consent form and participant information ( online - addressing the subjects, purpose and process of the study, opportunities for discussion of further questions, duration of the questionnaire, who is conducting the study, possibility for further inquiries)
B. For medical experts:
- Gynaecologists, paediatricians, general practitioners, pharmacists, dieticians with or without a consulting focus on vegans
- Confirmation of the participant information/written consent
Exclusion Criteria:
A. For vegans:
- Females/gender-diverse participants who change/changed their vegan diet (eat/ate a vegetarian or omnivorous diet) during their pregnancy/pregnancies
- Parents who do not feed/have never fed their children a vegan diet at least up to an age of 5 years (If vegan mothers followed a vegan diet during their pregnancy, exclusion only relates to questions concerning their children)
- No confirmation of the consent form and participant information (online) For the inclusion into the study at least one inclusion criteria (plus participant information) must be fulfilled. Exclusion (or not inclusion) will happen if only exclusion 3 is fulfilled. If only 1 or 2 is fulfilled - and 3 is not, participants will be included in the survey. All criteria will be proven by the study physician.
B. For medical experts:
- Other medical specialists than mentioned in inclusion criteria
- No confirmation of the participant information/no written consent For the inclusion into the study all criteria must be fulfilled. Exclusion (or not inclusion) will happen if only one exclusion criteria is fulfilled. All criteria will be proven by the study physician.
All participants have do understand the German language in order to answer the questionnaire.
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
Cohorts and Interventions
Group / Cohort |
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vegan pregnant women and vegan parents
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medical experts
paediatricians, gynaecologists, general practitioners, pharmacists, dieticians
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What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
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Determination of main influencing factors that affect vegans regarding their diet during pregnancy and when feeding their vegan children (up to an age of 5 years)
Time Frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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Influence by medical experts or other influences (social environment, Internet and Social Media, magazines etc.) concerning the decision for or against a vegan diet should be clarified.
Depending on the source of information, possible risks of a vegan diet during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood can be misjudged.
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The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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Identify sources of information for vegans on dietary supplements, as a reason for approval or rejection of dietary supplements (during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) - trustworthiness by ranking
Time Frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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It should be determined which information on dietary supplements (during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) is used and whether this information appears trustworthy or causes uncertainty.
Information received affects selection, intake, or avoidance of certain dietary supplements.
The health impact of selected sources of information on dietary supplements can be made visible.
Medical expert advice and other opinion-forming aspects (social environment, Internet and Social Media, magazines etc.) should be ranked according to their relevance.
The main source of information should be identified.
This can be an important approach for the improvement of information supply on dietary supplements in the vegan diet and for minimizing risks preventively.
By recognizing the source of information that is classified as the most important for vegans, the main causes of frequent inadequacies in the supply of information can be identified and positively changed.
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The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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Viewpoints and general knowledge of medical experts about a vegan diet and dietary supplements (for a vegan pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) should be established
Time Frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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The impact of expert opinion and knowledge on the vegan diet regarding their advice on dietary supplements for vegans (during vegan pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) should be clarified.
Statistically evaluated results of the survey should allow conclusions about the influence of information supply by medical experts on nutrient supply, of vegan pregnant women and growing children (up to an age of 5 years).
A possible misinterpretation of the health risk of a vegan diet during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood due to insufficient knowledge of dietary supplements could increase health risks.
A negative basic attitude towards a vegan diet influences the relationship of trust between vegans and their physicians.
If there is no advice on dietary supplements, health risks can increase.
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The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
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Determination of the level of knowledge of vegans on dietary supplements, nutrient deficiency risks and incorrect dosing of dietary supplements during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood (up to an age of 5 years)
Time Frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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If the risk of incorrect dosing of dietary supplements is misjudged by vegans during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood, nutrient deficiencies or overdose with dietary supplements become likely.
Risks of a nutrient deficiency due to missing intake or incorrect selection of dietary supplements because of a lack of knowledge should also be cognizable.
Avoiding these circumstances would require a better supply of information for vegans by medical experts (paediatricians, gynaecologists, general practitioners, pharmacists, dieticians).
If the risk of incorrect dosing is misjudged by medical experts the quality of advice on dietary supplements could suffer.
Imprecise advice could affect the relationship of trust between medical experts and vegans as well as the nutrient supply during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.
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The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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Definition and effectiveness as well as health and health optimization through dietary supplements from a vegan perspective
Time Frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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The perception of what a dietary supplement can do, whether it is comparable to medicine or food, or whether a positive/negative effect can be expected, depends on the level of knowledge of vegans about dietary supplements.
How vegans perceive dietary supplements and how they rate their effectiveness influences their intake behavior.
What health means for vegans and whether dietary supplements are perceived as health-promoting from a vegan perspective should also be clarified.
Determining what is meant by health optimization for vegans creates an understanding of the intake or rejection of dietary supplements.
Rejection of dietary supplementsdue to health concerns can indicate insufficient education about health benefits.
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The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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Determination of compliance with dietary supplements (DS) during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood as well as the consequences of administration difficulties to vegan children (up to an age of 5 years)
Time Frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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It should be investigated whether vegans consider regular intake or administration of DS during pregnancy and early childhood to be effective.
It should be clarified whether dosage forms (e.g.
drops, pills, capsules etc.) of existing DS for infants and children represent an unsettling factor for the vegan parents, which in turn increases the risk of incorrect dosing and resulting nutrient deficiencies (wrong administration, wrong dosing etc.).
Medical experts should also evaluate the options of dosage forms and the compliance as well as the consistency of administration by parents to the vegan child.
This should clarify whether dosage forms of DS can have an impact on the regularity of administration and subsequently on the development of nutrient deficiencies.
Statements about the regularity, duration of intake and compliance of DS are intended to allow conclusions about the supply of consumers with the corresponding DS and to show any potential dangers or health-enhancing effects.
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The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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Other Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
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Investigate if gender-specific and socio-demographic differences within the researched group of vegans exist
Time Frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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Different perceptions of and opinions on the vegan diet and DS (during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) between vegan women, men, gender-diverse people as well as between vegans in and outside the city should clarify differences in nutrient deficiency-associated risks of a vegan diet and the intake of DS.
Other socio-demographic characteristics such as age, education, income, employment status etc. should also be included.
Risk deviations could exist due to unequal access to information.
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The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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Collaborators and Investigators
Sponsor
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Wolfgang Huber-Schneider, University of Vienna
- Study Director: Karl-Heinz Wagner, University of Vienna
- Study Director: Ingrid Kiefer, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety GmbH - AGES
Publications and helpful links
General Publications
- Piccoli GB, Clari R, Vigotti FN, Leone F, Attini R, Cabiddu G, Mauro G, Castelluccia N, Colombi N, Capizzi I, Pani A, Todros T, Avagnina P. Vegan-vegetarian diets in pregnancy: danger or panacea? A systematic narrative review. BJOG. 2015 Apr;122(5):623-33. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.13280. Epub 2015 Jan 20.
- Amit M. Vegetarian diets in children and adolescents. Paediatr Child Health. 2010 May;15(5):303-14.
- Avnon T, Paz Dubinsky E, Lavie I, Ben-Mayor Bashi T, Anbar R, Yogev Y. The impact of a vegan diet on pregnancy outcomes. J Perinatol. 2021 May;41(5):1129-1133. doi: 10.1038/s41372-020-00804-x. Epub 2020 Sep 1.
- Baldassarre ME, Panza R, Farella I, Posa D, Capozza M, Mauro AD, Laforgia N. Vegetarian and Vegan Weaning of the Infant: How Common and How Evidence-Based? A Population-Based Survey and Narrative Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jul 5;17(13):4835. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17134835.
- Bardheci K, Jager L, Risch L, Rosemann T, Burgstaller JM, Markun S. Testing and Prescribing Vitamin B12 in Swiss General Practice: A Survey among Physicians. Nutrients. 2021 Jul 29;13(8):2610. doi: 10.3390/nu13082610.
- Baroni L, Goggi S, Battaglino R, Berveglieri M, Fasan I, Filippin D, Griffith P, Rizzo G, Tomasini C, Tosatti MA, Battino MA. Vegan Nutrition for Mothers and Children: Practical Tools for Healthcare Providers. Nutrients. 2018 Dec 20;11(1):5. doi: 10.3390/nu11010005.
- Bivi D, Di Chio T, Geri F, Morganti R, Goggi S, Baroni L, Mumolo MG, de Bortoli N, Peroni DG, Marchi S, Bellini M. Raising Children on a Vegan Diet: Parents' Opinion on Problems in Everyday Life. Nutrients. 2021 May 25;13(6):1796. doi: 10.3390/nu13061796.
- Brown B, Wright C. Safety and efficacy of supplements in pregnancy. Nutr Rev. 2020 Oct 1;78(10):813-826. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuz101. Erratum In: Nutr Rev. 2020 Sep 1;78(9):782. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaa009.
- Chouraqui JP. Risk Assessment of Micronutrients Deficiency in Vegetarian or Vegan Children: Not So Obvious. Nutrients. 2023 Apr 28;15(9):2129. doi: 10.3390/nu15092129.
- Hamiel U, Landau N, Eshel Fuhrer A, Shalem T, Goldman M. The Knowledge and Attitudes of Pediatricians in Israel Towards Vegetarianism. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2020 Jul;71(1):119-124. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000002721.
- Hay G, Fadnes L, Meltzer HM, Arnesen EK, Henriksen C. Follow-up of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and infants on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2022 Apr 27;142(7). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.21.0847. Print 2022 May 3. No abstract available. English, Norwegian.
- Hovinen T, Korkalo L, Freese R, Skaffari E, Isohanni P, Niemi M, Nevalainen J, Gylling H, Zamboni N, Erkkola M, Suomalainen A. Vegan diet in young children remodels metabolism and challenges the statuses of essential nutrients. EMBO Mol Med. 2021 Feb 5;13(2):e13492. doi: 10.15252/emmm.202013492. Epub 2021 Jan 20.
- Koebnick C, Hoffmann I, Dagnelie PC, Heins UA, Wickramasinghe SN, Ratnayaka ID, Gruendel S, Lindemans J, Leitzmann C. Long-term ovo-lacto vegetarian diet impairs vitamin B-12 status in pregnant women. J Nutr. 2004 Dec;134(12):3319-26. doi: 10.1093/jn/134.12.3319.
- Kiely ME. Risks and benefits of vegan and vegetarian diets in children. Proc Nutr Soc. 2021 May;80(2):159-164. doi: 10.1017/S002966512100001X. Epub 2021 Jan 28.
- Kostecka M, Kostecka J, Jackowska I, Ilowiecka K. Parental Nutritional Knowledge and Type of Diet as the Key Factors Influencing the Safety of Vegetarian Diets for Children Aged 12-36 Months. Nutrients. 2023 May 9;15(10):2244. doi: 10.3390/nu15102244.
- Lemale J, Mas E, Jung C, Bellaiche M, Tounian P; French-speaking Pediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group (GFHGNP). Vegan diet in children and adolescents. Recommendations from the French-speaking Pediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group (GFHGNP). Arch Pediatr. 2019 Oct;26(7):442-450. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2019.09.001. Epub 2019 Oct 12.
- Malek PhD L, Umberger PhD WJ, Makrides PhD M, Collins PhD CT, Zhou PhD SJ. Understanding motivations for dietary supplementation during pregnancy: A focus group study. Midwifery. 2018 Feb;57:59-68. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2017.11.004. Epub 2017 Nov 26.
- Nyaradi A, Li J, Hickling S, Foster J, Oddy WH. The role of nutrition in children's neurocognitive development, from pregnancy through childhood. Front Hum Neurosci. 2013 Mar 26;7:97. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00097. eCollection 2013.
- Palma O, Jallah JK, Mahakalkar MG, Mendhe DM. The Effects of Vegan Diet on Fetus and Maternal Health: A Review. Cureus. 2023 Oct 30;15(10):e47971. doi: 10.7759/cureus.47971. eCollection 2023 Oct.
- Pawlak R. To vegan or not to vegan when pregnant, lactating or feeding young children. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2017 Nov;71(11):1259-1262. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2017.111. Epub 2017 Jul 26. No abstract available.
- Pawlak R, Vos P, Shahab-Ferdows S, Hampel D, Allen LH, Perrin MT. Vitamin B-12 content in breast milk of vegan, vegetarian, and nonvegetarian lactating women in the United States. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018 Sep 1;108(3):525-531. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy104. Erratum In: Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 Jan 1;109(1):222. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy264.
- Sebastiani G, Herranz Barbero A, Borras-Novell C, Alsina Casanova M, Aldecoa-Bilbao V, Andreu-Fernandez V, Pascual Tutusaus M, Ferrero Martinez S, Gomez Roig MD, Garcia-Algar O. The Effects of Vegetarian and Vegan Diet during Pregnancy on the Health of Mothers and Offspring. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 6;11(3):557. doi: 10.3390/nu11030557.
- Simeone G, Bergamini M, Verga MC, Cuomo B, D'Antonio G, Iacono ID, Mauro DD, Mauro FD, Mauro GD, Leonardi L, Miniello VL, Palma F, Scotese I, Tezza G, Vania A, Caroli M. Do Vegetarian Diets Provide Adequate Nutrient Intake during Complementary Feeding? A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2022 Aug 31;14(17):3591. doi: 10.3390/nu14173591.
- Villette C, Vasseur P, Lapidus N, Debin M, Hanslik T, Blanchon T, Steichen O, Rossignol L. Vegetarian and Vegan Diets: Beliefs and Attitudes of General Practitioners and Pediatricians in France. Nutrients. 2022 Jul 28;14(15):3101. doi: 10.3390/nu14153101.
- Sandoval Leiva T, Munoz Y, Tabilo Aguirre L, Estay Castillo P. [Vitamin B12, fatty acids EPA and DHA during pregnancy and lactation in women with a plant-based diet]. Nutr Hosp. 2024 Oct 31;41(5):1098-1104. doi: 10.20960/nh.05120. Spanish.
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Primary Completion (Estimated)
Study Completion (Estimated)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Other Study ID Numbers
- VedieS
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.
This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.
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