Length-weight growth analysis up to 12 months of age in three groups according to the dietary pattern followed from pregnant mothers and children during the first year of life.

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to analyze the length-weight growth up to 12 months of age in three groups considering the respective dietary pattern followed from the pregnant mothers and from the infants during the first year of the life. Moreover, the cultural inference of vegetarianism has been studied.

Methods: Between September 2017 and May 2018, more than 100 mothers have been proposed to participate in this study. As a result of preliminary evaluation, which ensures the presence of inclusion criteria and the absence of exclusion criteria, 55 mothers and their 63 children have been enrolled and assessed with a questionnaire previously created for the study.

Results: A statistically significant difference has emerged between the omnivorous and the vegan group from the comparison for the weight of children at birth, 6 months and 12 months, both when expressed in grams and when expressed in growth percentiles. Furthermore, between the two children groups just mentioned, a significant difference has emerged from the comparison for the length expressed in growth percentiles at 12 months and for the Body Mass Index at 6 months. No statistically significant differences have emerged between the omnivorous group and the lacto-ovo/lacto-vegetarian group and between the latter and the vegan one.

Conclusions: Although differences between the three groups of children have emerged with regard to some anthropometric parameters, their length-weight growth during the first year of life has been harmonic and physiological regardless of the type of planned diet.