Plant-Based Diets and Thyroid Homeostasis in Children and Adolescents: Balancing Anti-Inflammatory Potential and Micronutrient Vulnerability
- 1Auxoendocrinology Center, Anna Meyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy
- 2Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
- 3Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Abstract
Plant-based diets are increasingly common among children and adolescents because of their potential health benefits, environmental sustainability, and ethical considerations. However, their implications for thyroid health during growth and development remain incompletely characterised. The effects of plant-based diets on thyroid function may depend on overall diet quality and the extent of exclusion of animal-derived foods. Well-planned plant-based diets provide bioactive compounds, dietary fibre, and unsaturated fatty acids that may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, promote a healthy gut microbiota, and support immune homeostasis. Conversely, poorly planned diets, particularly those rich in ultra-processed foods, may promote inflammation, oxidative stress, and intestinal dysbiosis. Vegetarian and vegan diet patterns may also increase the risk of inadequate intake of iodine, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins, while some plant-derived foods, including soy products and cruciferous vegetables, may influence thyroid physiology. These issues are particularly relevant during childhood, when thyroid hormones are essential for neurodevelopment, growth, and metabolic regulation. Current evidence suggests that thyroid health depends primarily on overall diet quality and micronutrient adequacy rather than the exclusion of animal-derived foods itself. This review critically examines these relationships, with particular emphasis on paediatric evidence.
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BibTeX
@article{luppino2026plantbased,
title = {{Plant-Based Diets and Thyroid Homeostasis in Children and Adolescents: Balancing Anti-Inflammatory Potential and Micronutrient Vulnerability}},
author = {Giovanni Luppino and Francesca Franchina and Matteo Pontone and Malgorzata Wasniewska and Stefano Stagi},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/nu18213686},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3686},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Plant-Based Diets and Thyroid Homeostasis in Children and Adolescents: Balancing Anti-Inflammatory Potential and Micronutrient Vulnerability
AU - Giovanni Luppino
AU - Francesca Franchina
AU - Matteo Pontone
AU - Malgorzata Wasniewska
AU - Stefano Stagi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18213686
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3686
AB - Plant-based diets are increasingly common among children and adolescents because of their potential health benefits, environmental sustainability, and ethical considerations. However, their implications for thyroid health during growth and development remain incompletely characterised. The effects of plant-based diets on thyroid function may depend on overall diet quality and the extent of exclusion of animal-derived foods. Well-planned plant-based diets provide bioactive compounds, dietary fibre, and unsaturated fatty acids that may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, promote a healthy gut microbiota, and support immune homeostasis. Conversely, poorly planned diets, particularly those rich in ultra-processed foods, may promote inflammation, oxidative stress, and intestinal dysbiosis. Vegetarian and vegan diet patterns may also increase the risk of inadequate intake of iodine, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins, while some plant-derived foods, including soy products and cruciferous vegetables, may influence thyroid physiology. These issues are particularly relevant during childhood, when thyroid hormones are essential for neurodevelopment, growth, and metabolic regulation. Current evidence suggests that thyroid health depends primarily on overall diet quality and micronutrient adequacy rather than the exclusion of animal-derived foods itself. This review critically examines these relationships, with particular emphasis on paediatric evidence.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -