Claim
A well-planned vegan diet is associated with lower risk of several chronic diseases, but the evidence does not show a clear difference in overall mortality, and poorly planned vegan diets carry nutritional risks.
It can be, if it is built on whole foods and covers a few nutrients. 'Vegan' on its own is not a health claim.
- Last reviewed
- Reviewer
- Editorial placeholder
- Status
- sample
Sample data. The figures and sources on this page are demonstration records showing how evidence will be presented. They are approximate and have not yet been through our review process. Read about how we will verify evidence.
Why this rating: Consistent benefits for specific outcomes, but observational data, mixed mortality findings and real nutrient risks prevent a stronger rating.
Supported by good-quality studies that point the same way, but with gaps: fewer studies, mostly observational data, or some inconsistency.
Explanation
Studies find lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers in people on plant-based diets, but not a consistent reduction in overall death rates.
Vegan diets range from whole foods to chips and sweets. The health effects depend on which one you eat.
Limitations
- Vegans are a small group in most cohorts; results often pool vegetarians and vegans.
Methodology
- Synthesis of systematic reviews of observational studies and nutrient-status surveys.
Sources for this claim
Each source links to our record of what it found, its limitations and what we used it for, with a link to the original.
- 1Vegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: a systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies
Monica Dinu, Rosanna Abbate, Gian Franco Gensini et al. (2017). Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
- 2How prevalent is vitamin B12 deficiency among vegetarians?
Roman Pawlak, Scott Parrott, Sudha Raj et al. (2013). Nutrition Reviews.