The information in this article is correct at date of publication: 2002
Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the publisher or editiorial staff.
There are estimated to be up to seven million people in the UK who consider themselves to be vegetarians. Young women are three times more likely to be vegetarian than the national average.
In virtually all cases, people who describe themselves as ‘vegetarian’ choose not to eat meat – however, some individuals follow more rigorous diets, sometimes excluding many of the food groups such as animal protein or dairy products. These are the clients who may need extra advice and care.
For example, iron is a particular concern for non-meat eaters, since the type of iron (haem iron) found in meat is particularly well absorbed by the body. Recent surveys have suggested that a large proportion of young women and children have low levels of iron in their body stores, even those who are not vegetarian.
For those women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, other sources of iron need to be found. Fortified breakfast cereals, bread, pulses, green leafy vegetables and dried fruit are good sources of non-haem iron. They should be eaten with a source of vitamin C such as a piece of fruit or a glass of fruit juice to enhance non-haem iron absorption.
Infants are born with a good store of iron, but this begins to deplete around 4-6 months.
Breastfed babies enjoy a source of iron that is easily absorbed. Bottlefed infants receive iron in their formula milk in higher amounts to account for the lower absorption.
Some mothers feel a desire to move their baby onto the next stage, which can mean the switch to cows’ milk is made too soon.
"Pasteurised whole cows’ milk should only be used as a main milk drink after the age of one year." Cows’ milk is too low in iron, too high in protein, low in zinc, vitamin D and essential fatty acids for infants. Cow & Gate follow-on milk is are available for bottlefed infants from six months or for mothers who are breastfeeding but also supplementing with a baby milk. Used as a drink, follow-on milks are suitable from six months and provide more iron than a first stage infant milk and much more iron than cows’ milk.
For those babies who do not consume iron-rich diets or there is concern about the infant’s milk intake, follow-on milks are a valuable source of iron and other nutrients. Recent research shows there are advantages in continuing follow-on milk usage to 18 months and beyond.
References
www.bbc.co.uk/health/nutrition/dietary_restrict.shtml
Nutritional Requirements of Infants and Young Children. [Ed.]. Thompson JM. Blackwell Science. Oxon. 1998.
Dept of Health (1994). Weaning and the Weaning Diet Report on Health and Social Subjects No 45. London:HMSO.
Daly A et al. Arch Dis Child 1996;75:9-16.
Williams J et al. BMJ 1999;318:693-697.
