Abstract
Introduction: The German market for dietary supplements and fortified foods is of considerable size, and many target-group-specific products, e.g., for vegans and vegetarians, are available. Growing sales volumes in recent years reflect the large demand for these products. However, the broad variety and easy availability may lead to unfavorable use of these products. Methods: The VeChi Youth Study (2017–2019) was a cross-sectional study among vegan (VN), vegetarian (VG), and omnivorous (OM) participants aged 6 to 18 years (n = 401). Dietary data were collected from 3-day weighed dietary records (n = 390). The present analysis investigates nutrient intake from dietary supplements and unfortified/fortified foods. Results: VN had the highest dietary supplement use and the highest intake of fortified foods (both significantly different from OM; p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0342, respectively). Among VN and VG, vitamins B12 and D were the most frequently supplemented nutrients, while among OM, this was vitamin C. The mean nutrient intake from dietary supplements (excluding vitamins B12 and D) and fortified foods contributed up to 49% and 11% of the German reference values, respectively. Except for iron, VN had the highest mean intake of all nutrients from dietary supplements. Including unfortified and fortified foods as well as supplements, the mean intake in all three diet groups reached the reference values for vitamin B12, vitamin C, iron, and zinc but not for calcium and iodine. Discussion: Dietary supplements, and to a smaller extent fortified foods, increased the nutrient intake of the participants of the VeChi Youth Study. In order to achieve recommended intakes, the intake of dietary supplements and fortified foods was either unnecessary (e.g., vitamin C), not sufficiently effective (e.g., calcium and iodine), or effective (e.g., vitamin B12). Conclusions: Specific intake of dietary supplements is useful to improve the intake of critical nutrients in VN and VG diets, especially for vitamins B12 and D. In Germany, fortified foods appear to contribute only to a small extent to the intake of critical nutrients in VN and VG children and adolescents.
Author Contributions
U.A., M.K. and S.W. designed the VeChi Youth study; U.A. and M.K. supervised the study; M.F., S.W., A.M. and A.L. were responsible for the implementation and data collection; J.D. analysed the data and drafted the manuscript; A.S. supervised the laboratory analysis; V.K. presented the manuscript at the 14th European Nutrition Conference FENS 2023, Belgrade, Serbia, 14–17 November 2023. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
The VeChi Youth Study (data collection, basic data analysis) was commissioned to the 14th DGE Nutrition Report 2020 published by the German Nutrition Society (DGE) and financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Germany.
Institutional Review Board Statement
The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Witten Herdecke (139/2017, 21 September 2017).
Informed Consent Statement
Informed consent was obtained from all subjects (or their parents) involved in the study.
Data Availability Statement
The data described in the manuscript might be made available on request.
Conflicts of Interest
All authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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