Risk of nutritional rickets among vegetarian children
J. T. Dwyer, W. H. Dietz Jr, G. Hass and R. Suskind
Records of the dietary intake of 52 preschool vegetarian children seen from
1974 to 1976 revealed that macrobiotic vegetarian diets provided amounts of
vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus that were marginal as well as less than
the amounts provided by other vegetarian diets. Vitamin D supplements were
rarely given. Two subjects had roentgenographic evidence of rickets. The
medical histories of 32 children on macrobiotic diets who were examined in
1977 more frequently included prior physical and roentgenographic findings
indicative of rickets, whereas those of 17 other vegetarian children did
not. Children in the former group were more likely to have elevated levels
of serum alkaline phosphatase. Two additional cases of rickets in children
consuming a macrobiotic diet confirmed by roentgenograms were brought to
our attention during the study.
