veganism: Hi, I was just wondering, are there any studies on how vegetarianism/veganism effects brain development in children? Would such a diet have a negative effect on normal brain growth? If you could cite an actual study, that would be fantastic, and stories from people who went veg at a very young age are welcome.|||I know that if you're deficient in b12 that it negatively affects brain growth, so it's a good idea to take a b12 supplement. Other than that, my family has been vegetarian for generations. We've got doctors, lawyers, business people, all successful, in our family. I don't feel like searching for a study, though. Take in adequate amounts of B12, fruits/veggies, legumes, whole grains, nuts/seeds, and supplement with some dha, and your kid should be healthy.|||There is no evidence that being vegan while pregnant inhibits the development of infant brains in any way: Sanders (1988). Growth and development of British vegan children Am J Clin Nutr 48: 822-825 http://www.ajcn.org/content/48/3/822.ful鈥?/a> As others have pointed out, vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy can harm infant development. This has been shown to lead to megaloblastic anemia in the offspring and is "not uncommon" in developing countries, and neural disorders have also been observed (Stabler and Allen (2004). VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY AS A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM. Annu. Rev. Nutr. 24:299鈥?26). So it isn't a vegan or vegetarian diet which can harm development, it is a diet which does not contain adequate nutrition. Provided the female ensures her intakes are sufficient, there will be no harm to the offspring.|||I only have anecdotal evidence that vegetarianism does not have a negative effect. I have raised my children as vegetarians and I've always aimed to give them a well balanced diet, but we're certainly not martyrs and the kids eat junk from time to time. They are both healthy and well developed teenagers. One is in the advanced stream at high school and is doing really well academically. The other qualified for the advanced stream but did not follow through with it, but is consistently top of his classes. They both have enquiring minds and mature outlooks, engage with the world, have large circles of friends and have academic and physical interests and hobbies. In short, they're perfect!|||I'm a 15 year old girl. Before I went vegetarian, I was making C's and D's and failing standardized tests. I simply didn't get the material taught at school. Now I'm making a 4.0 and getting prestigious scores on standardized tests. All the material taught makes sense to me now.|||A Southampton University team found those who were vegetarian by 30 had recorded five IQ points more on average at the age of 10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6180753.stm|||This one suggests the isoflavonoids in soy might affect a developing brain: http://www.dafml.unito.it/anatomy/panzic鈥?/a> This one that a lack of dietary fats (especially DHA) might affect a developing brain (veg*ns tend to have less fat in their diets): http://www.aseanfood.info/Articles/11023鈥?/a>