ArticleEuropean journal of nutrition2025
Selenium, zinc, and copper intake and status of vegetarian, vegan, and omnivore children and adolescents: results of the VeChi youth study.
Article in European journal of nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Plant-Based Diets in Adolescence: Cardiometabolic Benefits, Developmental Risks, and the Role of Fortification.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Metal and metal mixture biomarkers across three U.S. cohorts: MASALA, MESA-LA, and Strong Heart Family Study.Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology · 2026Article
- Fingernail Mineral Profiling as a Non-Invasive Tool to Assess Dietary and Lifestyle Factors: Results From the Cross-Sectional Fulda NutriNAIL Study.BioFactors (Oxford, England)Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeAs animal-derived foods are the main source of selenium, zinc, and copper, children and adolescents on vegetarian or vegan dietary patterns are at risk of an inadequate supply.
methodsAmong 342 children and adolescents (6-18 years) with different dietary patterns (86 vegans, 120 vegetarians, 118 omnivores) from the cross-sectional VeChi Youth study serum concentrations of selenium, zinc, and copper and functional biomarkers such as glutathione peroxidase-3 activity (GPX3) and selenoprotein P (SELENOP) for selenium and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity (CPO) for copper were measured. Dietary intake of these trace elements was estimated using a 3-day weighed food record. Group differences were assessed by analysis of covariance, adjusted for age, sex, puberty status, and further covariates.
resultsTrace element intake differed across dietary patterns with lower selenium intake in vegans compared to omnivores (p < 0.0001), and lower zinc but higher copper intake in vegans (p = 0.0487 and p < 0.0001) and vegetarians (p = 0.0354 and p < 0.0001) than in omnivores. Lower serum selenium as well as SELENOP concentrations were observed in vegans (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001) and vegetarians (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001) in comparison to omnivores, but no difference in GPX3 activity across the dietary groups was observed. Similarly, serum zinc concentrations were lower in vegans (p = 0.0122) and vegetarians (p = 0.0016) compared to omnivores while serum copper concentrations and CPO did not differ between the dietary patterns.
conclusionVegetarian and vegan dietary patterns are associated with lower intake and serum biomarkers of selenium and zinc and should be monitored in children and adolescents on vegan or vegetarian dietary patterns. Trial registration number and date of registration DRKS00012835, 11.07.2018.
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