PP018 - PREVALENCE OF VEGETARIANISM AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN SWITZERLAND AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS WITH SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AND VITAMIN CONCENTRATIONS

PP018

PREVALENCE OF VEGETARIANISM AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN SWITZERLAND AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS WITH SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AND VITAMIN CONCENTRATIONS

E. Hillesheim^1,*, V. A. Bertoni Maluf¹, M.-C. Antoniou^2,3, L. B. Martins⁴, J. Vincentini^5,6, A. Siegfried-Troxler⁷, C. Akre^5,6, P. Marques-Vidal^3,6, S. Rezzi⁴, M. Bochud^5,6, A. Chatelan¹

¹Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland, ²P&A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece, ³CHUV Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, ⁴Swiss Nutrition and Health Foundation, Epalinges, ⁵Unisanté, University Center for Primary Care and Public Health, ⁶University of Lausanne, Lausanne, ⁷Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Bern, Switzerland

Rationale: As interest in plant-based diets increases, vegetarian patterns may be adopted earlier in life. We assessed the prevalence of vegetarianism among children and adolescents in Switzerland and its associations with sociodemographic factors and vitamin concentrations.

Methods: Dietary data (n=1852) and blood samples (n=848) from participants aged 6–17 years in the nationally representative menuCH-Kids survey (2023–24) were analysed. Diet type was defined using two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls (24HDRs), a food propensity questionnaire (FPQ) and a self-reported vegetarian or vegan status question. Missing data (0.4–5.9%) were imputed using sex- and age-specific modes and medians. All analyses were weighted, and associations were examined using adjusted logistic and linear regression models.

Results: After cross-checking data sources, 77 participants were classified as vegetarians (weighted prevalence 3.9%; 95% CI: 2.9–5.2%). Only one vegan was identified and analysed with non-vegetarians. Among vegetarians, 65% and 32% reported consuming plant-based meat or dairy alternatives in the 24HDRs, increasing to 91% and 57% when FPQ data were included. Vegetarianism was associated with female sex (OR 2.94; 95% CI: 1.44–6.02), adolescence (14–17 vs 6–9 years: 2.33; 1.11–4.89), residence in German- (4.31; 1.70–10.91) or Italian-speaking regions (3.70; 1.15–11.86), higher guardian education (2.60; 1.18–5.70) and supplement use (2.29; 1.28–4.10). Vitamin concentrations did not differ between vegetarians (n=40) and non-vegetarians (n=808), including vitamins B1, B2, B6, B9, B12, D, A and β-carotene.

Conclusion: Vegetarianism was uncommon in this population but socially patterned. Comparable vitamin concentrations suggest that vegetarians may adopt effective dietary or supplemental strategies to maintain adequate vitamin status.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared