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Catch-Up Growth in Children Fed a Macrobiotic Diet in Early Childhood¹

Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen Agricultural University, the Netherlands ^* Department of Internal Medicine II, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands

To study the relationship between diet and growth, a longitudinal anthropometric study was conducted in a Dutch population consuming a macrobiotic diet. Measurements (anthropometry and food habit questionnaire) were taken in 1985 (0–7 y), 1987, and in 1993 (7–16 y, n = 209). Z-scores were calculated for anthropometric measures and changes expressed as the differences between 1993 and the mean of 1985 and 1987. Analysis indicated significant (P < 0.002) catch-up in height [(mean Z-score ± SEM) + 0.59 ± 0.07] and arm circumference (+0.34 ± 0.09) for age (boys and girls combined). In 1993, both girls and boys were still significantly (P < 0.05) below the reference for height and sum of four skinfolds for age, and girls were below reference for weight-for-height and arm circumference for age. In girls, multiple regression analyses showed a significant positive effect of the consumption frequency of dairy products on catch-up growth in height, weight and arm circumference, after adjustment for menarche, age, and baseline height, weight and arm circumference (P < 0.05). The addition of moderate amounts of dairy products to a vegan type of diet improved growth of children, especially girls.

KEY WORDS: • macrobiotic diet • catch-up growth • children • nutritional status • animal products

¹ The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 USC section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

² To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Manuscript received 26 February 1996. Revision accepted 9 August 1996.