Abstract
We present two infants who developed severe nutritional deficits while receiving an almond-based home made ‘‘formula’’ as the sole constituent of their diet. Both babies were fed what their parents have called ‘‘almond milk’’ – a commercially produced almond mash mixed with water to give a milky-looking drink. Following this diet one infant had hypocalcemia, rickets and iron deficiency anemia, and the other severe hypoalbuminemia with resultant peripheral edema. All abnormalities resolved following conversion to a balanced diet. As this unique diet includes no dairy products, no eggs and no meat, we regard it as a form of a vegan diet. Indeed, the nutritional complications described here have previously been reported among children raised in communities in which strict vegan diets were followed. The literature regarding the effects of unsupervised vegan diets in infancy is reviewed. The hazards of dietary ‘‘fads’’ in infancy and the importance of adequate nutritional follow up by health care professionals is emphasized.
Published Version
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