An observational study in Vegan Diet, Pregnancy and Dietary Supplements, sponsored by Wolfgang Huber-Schneider. Recruiting at 1 site in Austria. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-04-01.
Sponsored by Wolfgang Huber-Schneider · Observational
The main goals of the exploratory, cross-sectional survey among vegans are to reveal influencing factors, sources of information gathering, reasons for choosing certain dietary supplements of pregnant vegans and parents, difficulties in administering dietary supplements to children, and the compliance of dietary supplements of vegans, because there is no data available yet. Results serve as a starting point for comprehensive information provision for surveyed vegans and provide insight into the nutritional knowledge of vegans. The advisory role of the medical experts is essential to provide vegans with reliable information on a balanced vegan diet and dietary supplements. The opinion of medical experts has a decisive influence on the health of vegans. For this reason the content of their advice will be assessed.
The main questions the study aims to answer are: Do vegan pregnant women and parents know about possible nutrient deficiencies during pregnancy and childhood and who do they turn to for information about nutritional supplements? What is the quality of the information received?
During intensive development phases, such as pregnancy and childhood, the probability of insufficient nutrient supply raises. In the course of a vegan diet, the focus should be on an adequate supply of vitamin B12, zinc, iron, calcium, vitamin D, iodide, omega-3 fatty acids and iron. Nutrient deficiency can be prevented by supplying these critical nutrients of a vegan diet adequately. A purely plant-based diet can provide all necessary macro- and micronutrients during pregnancy and childhood, except DHA and EPA, as well as vitamin B12. Newborns of vegan mothers are smaller (small for gestational age) and are born with a lower birth weight than those born from omnivores, which can lead to further nutrient-deficiency-related development and health consequences. If the mother lacks an adequate supply of nutrients, nutrient deficiencies can occur in the infant despite breastfeeding. Expert groups such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and German Society for Nutrition (DGE) disagree about the risks of a purely plant-based diet for pregnant women, infants and children. In the past no distinct statements were made on the benefits or drawbacks for vegan pregnant women and their children in terms of nutrient supply, due to a lack of well-designed studies. Latest findings show that there are risks of malnutrition, which can be prevented by dietary supplements and observing the health and developmental status of mother and child. Although the selection of vegan foods is becoming more diverse, there is no data on whether this expansion of the offer results in a better nutrient supply for vegans - the current state of studies suggests dietary supplementation is necessary. Pregnant women who consume an omnivorous diet are often taking dietary supplements to support the healthy development of their unborn children. Influencing factors that affect the approach of vegan pregnant women and parents towards dietary supplements have not yet been scientifically determined. It has been shown that mothers who feed their children a vegan diet have less nutritional knowledge than mothers whose children follow an ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet. Parents often ask pediatricians how to provide the most balanced diet for their children. For this reason, constructive communication between parents of vegan children and their pediatricians and dieticians is important in order to provide comprehensive information about a healthy, purely plant-based diet. The relationship between vegan parents and doctors can therefore influence the health and well-being of vegan children. However, the majority of pediatricians is perceived skeptical or negative towards a vegan diet, which can affect vegan parents' trust in their children's doctors and limit or prevent communication. Many parents don't inform pediatricians about their children's vegan diet in order not to be exposed to criticism. The skeptical attitude of doctors could result from legitimate, nutrition-related objections on the one hand and from a lack of knowledge about a vegan diet and dietary supplements on the other. This can lead to health consequences for vegan pregnant women and children due to a lack of information supply and miscommunication. It is not yet clear whether other specialists and medical experts in addition to pediatricians have a negative attitude towards a vegan diet during pregnancy and childhood and therefore offer little or no advice on vegan diets and dietary supplements. If a negative attitude also exists among gynecologists, general practitioners, dieticians and pharmacists, this could have a negative effect on vegans due to a lack of information transfer. The level of information and the associated information provided by medical experts on a vegan diet and dietary supplements during pregnancy and childhood therefore has a significant impact on the adequate nutrient supply of metioned vegans. The level of knowledge among medical experts regarding a vegan diet and dietary supplements has not yet been sufficiently examined. Competent advice on supplementation with dietary supplements is essential for a healthy development during pregnancy and childhood. If information is not provided by medical experts, vegans use other sources of information. It can be assumed that many vegans are insufficiently, incorrectly or not at all informed about dietary supplements and a well-balanced vegan diet due to the different quality of provided information. Dubious sources of information and external influencing factors (social environment, Internet and Social Media, magazines, advertisement etc.) are likely to make parents feel insecure and can affect the health of their children. A lack of expertise on the part of vegan pregnant women and parents (on a vegan diet and dietary supplements) and insufficient support from medical experts (paediatricians, gynaecologists, general practitioners, pharmacists, dieticians) entails possible health risks. The impact of medical expertise and other social, sociodemographic factors (age, social environment and background, Internet and Social Media, advertising etc.), on the diet of vegan pregnant women and children (up to an age of 5 years), as well as on supplementation with dietary supplements needs to be researched. Whether and to what extent external factors influence a vegan pregnancy, infancy and childhood has not yet been scientifically investigated. In addition, there is still no data on the opinion and level of knowledge of consulting medical experts and associated consequences regarding nutrition and the possibility of supplementing dietary supplements for vegans. Results may demonstrate the need for comprehensive counseling on dietary supplements and a vegan diet and highlight the need for better and competent information provision by medical experts to pregnant vegan women and parents of vegan children.
This is the only study on the registry with Wolfgang Huber-Schneider as lead sponsor.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Planned sample size for surveyed vegans: About 0.5-1% of the Austrian population follows a vegan diet (estimated - currently no exact numbers exist - source: vegan society Austria). In 2022, 82,198 children were born in Austria (Statistik Austria). In 5 years, around 400,000 children will be born in Austria - if 0.5-1% of them have parents that follow a vegan diet and are therefore also fed vegan, this results in an estimated number of 2000-4000 children and vegan parents. 25% of these should be reached with the survey. This corresponds to a planned sample size of 500-1000 vegans. Planned sample size for surveyed medical experts: Based on other scientific surveys in which physicians were included, we aim for 50-60 participants per expert group (paediatricians, gynaecologists, general practitioners, pharmacists, dieticians) for the questionnaire (see references: Vilette et al, 2022; Bardheci et al, 2021; Hamiel et al, 2020).
A. For vegans:
B. For medical experts:
Exclusion Criteria:
A. For vegans:
B. For medical experts:
All participants have do understand the German language in order to answer the questionnaire.
paediatricians, gynaecologists, general practitioners, pharmacists, dieticians
Determination of main influencing factors that affect vegans regarding their diet during pregnancy and when feeding their vegan children (up to an age of 5 years)
Influence by medical experts or other influences (social environment, Internet and Social Media, magazines etc.) concerning the decision for or against a vegan diet should be clarified. Depending on the source of information, possible risks of a vegan diet during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood can be misjudged.
Time frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
Identify sources of information for vegans on dietary supplements, as a reason for approval or rejection of dietary supplements (during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) - trustworthiness by ranking
It should be determined which information on dietary supplements (during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) is used and whether this information appears trustworthy or causes uncertainty. Information received affects selection, intake, or avoidance of certain dietary supplements. The health impact of selected sources of information on dietary supplements can be made visible. Medical expert advice and other opinion-forming aspects (social environment, Internet and Social Media, magazines etc.) should be ranked according to their relevance. The main source of information should be identified. This can be an important approach for the improvement of information supply on dietary supplements in the vegan diet and for minimizing risks preventively. By recognizing the source of information that is classified as the most important for vegans, the main causes of frequent inadequacies in the supply of information can be identified and positively changed.
Time frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
Viewpoints and general knowledge of medical experts about a vegan diet and dietary supplements (for a vegan pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) should be established
The impact of expert opinion and knowledge on the vegan diet regarding their advice on dietary supplements for vegans (during vegan pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) should be clarified. Statistically evaluated results of the survey should allow conclusions about the influence of information supply by medical experts on nutrient supply, of vegan pregnant women and growing children (up to an age of 5 years). A possible misinterpretation of the health risk of a vegan diet during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood due to insufficient knowledge of dietary supplements could increase health risks. A negative basic attitude towards a vegan diet influences the relationship of trust between vegans and their physicians. If there is no advice on dietary supplements, health risks can increase.
Time frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
Determination of the level of knowledge of vegans on dietary supplements, nutrient deficiency risks and incorrect dosing of dietary supplements during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood (up to an age of 5 years)
If the risk of incorrect dosing of dietary supplements is misjudged by vegans during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood, nutrient deficiencies or overdose with dietary supplements become likely. Risks of a nutrient deficiency due to missing intake or incorrect selection of dietary supplements because of a lack of knowledge should also be cognizable. Avoiding these circumstances would require a better supply of information for vegans by medical experts (paediatricians, gynaecologists, general practitioners, pharmacists, dieticians). If the risk of incorrect dosing is misjudged by medical experts the quality of advice on dietary supplements could suffer. Imprecise advice could affect the relationship of trust between medical experts and vegans as well as the nutrient supply during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.
Time frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
Definition and effectiveness as well as health and health optimization through dietary supplements from a vegan perspective
The perception of what a dietary supplement can do, whether it is comparable to medicine or food, or whether a positive/negative effect can be expected, depends on the level of knowledge of vegans about dietary supplements. How vegans perceive dietary supplements and how they rate their effectiveness influences their intake behavior. What health means for vegans and whether dietary supplements are perceived as health-promoting from a vegan perspective should also be clarified. Determining what is meant by health optimization for vegans creates an understanding of the intake or rejection of dietary supplements. Rejection of dietary supplementsdue to health concerns can indicate insufficient education about health benefits.
Time frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
Determination of compliance with dietary supplements (DS) during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood as well as the consequences of administration difficulties to vegan children (up to an age of 5 years)
It should be investigated whether vegans consider regular intake or administration of DS during pregnancy and early childhood to be effective. It should be clarified whether dosage forms (e.g. drops, pills, capsules etc.) of existing DS for infants and children represent an unsettling factor for the vegan parents, which in turn increases the risk of incorrect dosing and resulting nutrient deficiencies (wrong administration, wrong dosing etc.). Medical experts should also evaluate the options of dosage forms and the compliance as well as the consistency of administration by parents to the vegan child. This should clarify whether dosage forms of DS can have an impact on the regularity of administration and subsequently on the development of nutrient deficiencies. Statements about the regularity, duration of intake and compliance of DS are intended to allow conclusions about the supply of consumers with the corresponding DS and to show any potential dangers or health-enhancing effects.
Time frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
Investigate if gender-specific and socio-demographic differences within the researched group of vegans exist
Different perceptions of and opinions on the vegan diet and DS (during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) between vegan women, men, gender-diverse people as well as between vegans in and outside the city should clarify differences in nutrient deficiency-associated risks of a vegan diet and the intake of DS. Other socio-demographic characteristics such as age, education, income, employment status etc. should also be included. Risk deviations could exist due to unequal access to information.
Time frame: The assessment of the study will take place approximately 24 months after participation of vegans/medical experts in the survey
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