Thread: Vegan vegetarian question

My neice who is 15, is a vegan vegeterian. She hasn't had a period in two months and I was wondering if it's because she isn't getting something she needs in her diet. Does anyone know if maybe she's low on something. She's started taking a multivitamin in hopes that will help.

Donna, the vegans I know are all adults, and even they admit it is an ongoing challenge to make sure they are getting optimum nutrition in every area. Here is an interesting article I found, which mentions the relationship between amenorrhea and diet. http://www.vitacost.com/science/hn/C...Amenorrhea.htm

Sometimes young people, in their zeal, tend to restrict their diets too much, or to too few foods, either of which could cause a nutritional deficiency leading to amenorrhea, according to this article. There seem to be several nutrient deficiencies that could cause cessation of periods, as well as just plain having a caloric intake that's too low. A multi-couldn't hurt, but if she were my daughter, I'd seek some guidance from a nutritionist experienced with planning and analyzing vegan diets, and probably have see her physician as well, IMO.

Thanks, Brenda. I've called her mom and told her that I think she's going a little extreme. She's going to take her to the doctor.