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. 2025 Jul 22;64(5):247.
doi: 10.1007/s00394-025-03761-3.

Selenium, zinc, and copper intake and status of vegetarian, vegan, and omnivore children and adolescents: results of the VeChi youth study

Rebecca Simon  1 , Elisa Richter  1 , Kristina Lossow  1 , Morwenna Fischer  2 , Alfred Längler  3   4 , Andreas Michalsen  5 , Stine Weder  6 , Markus Keller  6 , Anna P Kipp #  1 , Ute Alexy #  7
Affiliations

Selenium, zinc, and copper intake and status of vegetarian, vegan, and omnivore children and adolescents: results of the VeChi youth study

Rebecca Simon et al. Eur J Nutr. .

Abstract

Purpose: As 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.

Methods: Among 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.

Results: Trace 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.

Conclusion: Vegetarian 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.

Keywords: Adolescents; Children; Copper; Omnivore diet; Selenium; Trace element status; Vegan diet; Vegetarian diet; Zinc.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Ethical approval: The VeChi Youth Study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of Witten-Herdecke University. (139/2017). Informed consent: All examinations were performed with parental and older participants’ (≥ 14 years) written consent.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart of the study participants
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Selenium (A), zinc (B), and copper (C) intake as % of the German age- and sex-specific reference value in vegetarian, vegan, and omnivore participants of the VeChi Youth Study (6–18 years of age, 2017–2019) [35]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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