Vegetarianism infants

Infantile WE may be found in developing conntiies, primarily among breast-fed infants, nsnally in the second to fifth months of development. Wernicke s encephalopathy is very rare in developed nations. However, in 2003, Israel was faced with an epidemic of WE dne to a batch of defective soy-based vegetarian infant formula. WE was documented in 20 ont of an estimated 3500 infants who were fed the formula, later found to be deficient in thiamine (Kesler et al., 2005). 

Vitamin Deficiency. Vitamin deficiency is uncommon in normal adults. However, when it does occur, it can be serious, particularly in pregnant women. Some vitamin deficiency can occur because of a large reduction of fat intake, which decreases absorption. Strict vegetarians also risk reduced vitamin intake. Premature infants and elderly people who are exposed to minimal sunlight and consume Htde vitamin also have a reduced capacity to metabolize and can develop vitamin deficiency. 

Another commercially available product containing naturally occurring marine products is Formulaid , produced by Martek Biosciences as a nutritional supplement for infant formulas. Formulaid contains two fatty acids, arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), extracted from a variety of marine microalgae. ARA and DHA are the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acids found in breast milk, and they are the most important fatty acids used in the development of brain gray matter. They are especially desirable for use in infant formulas because they come from nonmeat sources and can be advertised as vegetarian additives to the product. 

A 6-month-old child was breast-fed exclusively by a mother who had been a strict vegetarian for at least 7 years. He was totally unresponsive to stimuli. His hemoglobin was 5.7 g/dL, and his bone marrow aspirates showed megaloblastic changes in blood cells. His serum folate and iron were normal. His urine contained increased amounts of homocystine, methylmalonic acid, and glycine. Propose a reason for this infant s illness, and discuss its biochemical etiology. Discuss other possible reasons for the same or similar symptoms in a patient. Explain the abnormal serum and urine chemistries. 

Vitamin B12 is a controlling factor for pernicious anaemia, but since it is difficult to design a diet lacking this vitamin, this condition is very rare. As animal food products are the richest source of vitamin B12, most people that develop deficiency of this vitamin are true vegetarians or infants of vegetarian mothers. Symptoms of Bi2 deficiency have a slow onset, as minute amounts are required and it is efficiently stored, but they include anaemia, a smooth red painful tongue (glossitis)... 

Higginbottom, M, C Sweetman, L., and Nyhan, W. L. (1978). A syndrome of methylmalonic aciduria, homocysteinuria, megaloblastic anemia, and tieurological abnormalities in a vitamin Bjj-deficient breast-fed infant of a strict vegetarian. W. f.ngl ]. Med. 299, 317-323. 

Requirements and Reference Nutrient Intakes In the United States, the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for zinc is 11 mg/day for men and 8 mg/day for women. Infants and young children need smaller amounts. Increased amounts are required during pregnancy and lactation. Strict vegetarians may need as much as 50% more zinc per day because of the increased phytic acid and fiber in their diet, ... 

The widespread use of soy products in infant foods, vegetarian formulations and as an ingredient in the composition of several foods contributes to its ubiquitous presence in foodstuffs. 

When soy-based products are promoted as healthy foods possessing putative beneficial estrogenic and anticarcinogenic activity, some of these properties due to their isoflavones, the findings mentioned in the previous paragraph should be highlighted, due to the widespread use of these products in infant food formulas and the consumption of soy products by people with vegetarian diets. 

Isoflavones are mainly found in legumes and particularly in soy. Soy is the major source of genistein and daizdein, although their presence has also been reported in black beans, green split peas, and clover sprouts. The widespread use of soy products in infant foods, vegetarian formulations and as an ingredient in the composition of several foods leads to its ubiquitous presence in foodstuffs. Other isoflavones with nutritional relevance are brochamin and formononetin, which occur in... 

V.B12 occurs predominantly in animal tissues and animal products. It is synthesized principally by bacteria. Green plants contain little or no V.B,2. Deficiency symptoms are sometimes observed in strict vegetarians, most often in breast-fed infants whose mothers consume no animal products. The body reserves of cobalamin are usually so large that an adult can survive for many years on them in the absence of a dietary intake. 

Babies are born with a limited hepatic reserve of vitamin B12. The content of vitamin B12 in breast milk is important to maintain adequate supplies. Infants of vegetarian mothers or mothers with unrecognized pernicious anaemia may therefore develop vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency may have detrimental neurological effects such as psychomotor retardation and epilepsy. 

Vegetarian diets which contain no meat, eggs, or milk may Ere harmful for babies. These diets are likely to Ere lacking in several important nutrients that infants ne to grow strong and healthy. 

NOTE WELL Pure vegetarian diets are not recommended for infants and small children. Also, pure vegetarian diets for pregnant or lactating women should be planned with great care. 

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