Vegan/vegetarian diet and human milk donation: An EMBA survey across European milk banks
Abstract The nutritional adequacy of human milk (HM) from vegan/vegetarian mothers has been a matter of debate, and a variety of recommendations regarding the eligibility of these mothers as human milk donors exists. According to the latest evidence, HM from vegans/vegetarians is similar in its comp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13564 |
| _version_ | 1797376233730736128 |
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| author | Serena Gandino Agnieszka Bzikowska‐Jura Karolina Karcz Tanya Cassidy Aleksandra Wesolowska Barbara Królak‐Olejnik Daniel Klotz Sertac Arslanoglu Jean‐Charles Picaud Clair‐Yves Boquien Enrico Bertino Guido E. Moro Gillian Weaver |
| author_facet | Serena Gandino Agnieszka Bzikowska‐Jura Karolina Karcz Tanya Cassidy Aleksandra Wesolowska Barbara Królak‐Olejnik Daniel Klotz Sertac Arslanoglu Jean‐Charles Picaud Clair‐Yves Boquien Enrico Bertino Guido E. Moro Gillian Weaver |
| author_sort | Serena Gandino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The nutritional adequacy of human milk (HM) from vegan/vegetarian mothers has been a matter of debate, and a variety of recommendations regarding the eligibility of these mothers as human milk donors exists. According to the latest evidence, HM from vegans/vegetarians is similar in its composition to that from omnivores, however, some differences may be observed regarding vitamin B12 and omega‐3 fatty acids concentrations. Maternal supplementation of these compounds has been proven effective in increasing their HM concentration. With this survey, we aimed to explore the practices currently in use in European human milk banks (HMBs) regarding potential donors following vegan/vegetarian diets. The online survey was distributed to European HMBs between January and July 2022. A total of 188 HMBs were contacted, and 118 replied (response rate 63%). Vegan and vegetarian mothers were recommended supplements of vitamin B12 to be accepted as donors in 27% and 26% of HMBs, respectively. Additional omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation was required in 8% HMBs. In the remaining HMBs, these mothers were either systematically excluded or included regardless of supplementation. The dosage of the recommended supplements was extremely variable. Fifty‐one percent of HMBs were following recommendations to guide their practice, national or local recommendations mainly. Great variability in European HMBs practices towards potential donors following vegan/vegetarian diets exists. Some of these practices can result in loss of donors and/or in potential nutritional deficiencies. Standardised evidence‐based recommendations on this issue and their implementation in daily HMB practice are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:35:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b5877035e9024b1caa20d5892f3ed04c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1740-8695 1740-8709 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:35:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5877035e9024b1caa20d5892f3ed04c2023-12-26T05:21:00ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092024-01-01201n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13564Vegan/vegetarian diet and human milk donation: An EMBA survey across European milk banksSerena Gandino0Agnieszka Bzikowska‐Jura1Karolina Karcz2Tanya Cassidy3Aleksandra Wesolowska4Barbara Królak‐Olejnik5Daniel Klotz6Sertac Arslanoglu7Jean‐Charles Picaud8Clair‐Yves Boquien9Enrico Bertino10Guido E. Moro11Gillian Weaver12Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford UKLaboratory of Human Milk and Lactation Research at Regional Human Milk Bank in Holy Family Hospital, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences Medical University of Warsaw Warsaw PolandDepartment of Neonatology Medical University in Wrocław Wroclaw PolandKathleen Lonsdale Institute for Health Research Maynooth University Kildare IrelandLaboratory of Human Milk and Lactation Research at Regional Human Milk Bank in Holy Family Hospital, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences Medical University of Warsaw Warsaw PolandDepartment of Neonatology Medical University in Wrocław Wroclaw PolandDepartment of Neonatology, Center for Pediatrics, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg GermanyDivision of Neonatology, İstanbul Medeniyet University School of Medicine İstanbul TurkiyeService de Neonatologie, Hopital Universitaire de la Croix‐Rousse Hospices civils de Lyon Lyon FranceUMR 1280, PhAN, Nantes Université, INRAE CRNH‐OUEST Nantes FranceNeonatology Division University of Turin, City of Health and Science of Turin Turin ItalyItalian Association of Human Milk Banks (AIBLUD) Milan ItalyHuman Milk Foundation Rothamsted Institute Harpenden UKAbstract The nutritional adequacy of human milk (HM) from vegan/vegetarian mothers has been a matter of debate, and a variety of recommendations regarding the eligibility of these mothers as human milk donors exists. According to the latest evidence, HM from vegans/vegetarians is similar in its composition to that from omnivores, however, some differences may be observed regarding vitamin B12 and omega‐3 fatty acids concentrations. Maternal supplementation of these compounds has been proven effective in increasing their HM concentration. With this survey, we aimed to explore the practices currently in use in European human milk banks (HMBs) regarding potential donors following vegan/vegetarian diets. The online survey was distributed to European HMBs between January and July 2022. A total of 188 HMBs were contacted, and 118 replied (response rate 63%). Vegan and vegetarian mothers were recommended supplements of vitamin B12 to be accepted as donors in 27% and 26% of HMBs, respectively. Additional omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation was required in 8% HMBs. In the remaining HMBs, these mothers were either systematically excluded or included regardless of supplementation. The dosage of the recommended supplements was extremely variable. Fifty‐one percent of HMBs were following recommendations to guide their practice, national or local recommendations mainly. Great variability in European HMBs practices towards potential donors following vegan/vegetarian diets exists. Some of these practices can result in loss of donors and/or in potential nutritional deficiencies. Standardised evidence‐based recommendations on this issue and their implementation in daily HMB practice are needed.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13564breast feedingdiet vegandiet vegetarianfatty acidsinfant nutritionmaternal nutrition |
| spellingShingle | Serena Gandino Agnieszka Bzikowska‐Jura Karolina Karcz Tanya Cassidy Aleksandra Wesolowska Barbara Królak‐Olejnik Daniel Klotz Sertac Arslanoglu Jean‐Charles Picaud Clair‐Yves Boquien Enrico Bertino Guido E. Moro Gillian Weaver Vegan/vegetarian diet and human milk donation: An EMBA survey across European milk banks Maternal and Child Nutrition breast feeding diet vegan diet vegetarian fatty acids infant nutrition maternal nutrition |
| title | Vegan/vegetarian diet and human milk donation: An EMBA survey across European milk banks |
| title_full | Vegan/vegetarian diet and human milk donation: An EMBA survey across European milk banks |
| title_fullStr | Vegan/vegetarian diet and human milk donation: An EMBA survey across European milk banks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vegan/vegetarian diet and human milk donation: An EMBA survey across European milk banks |
| title_short | Vegan/vegetarian diet and human milk donation: An EMBA survey across European milk banks |
| title_sort | vegan vegetarian diet and human milk donation an emba survey across european milk banks |
| topic | breast feeding diet vegan diet vegetarian fatty acids infant nutrition maternal nutrition |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13564 |
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