# 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.

The Balance of Health
Canonical: https://thebalanceofhealth.com/claims/is-a-vegan-diet-healthier-overall
Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

## status

reviewed

## id

claim-vegan-diet-healthier-overall

## slug

is-a-vegan-diet-healthier-overall

## statement

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.

## shortAnswer

It can be, if it is built on whole foods and covers a few nutrients. 'Vegan' on its own is not a health claim.

## pillarIds

- health

## topicIds

- cardiovascular
- nutrients

## keyStatisticId

stat-vegetarian-mortality-change

## 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.

## rating

### strength

moderate

### rationale

Consistent benefits for specific outcomes, but observational data, mixed mortality findings and real nutrient risks prevent a stronger rating.

## sourceIds

- src-dinu-2017-vegetarian-vegan-meta
- src-pawlak-2013-b12

## 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.

## Original sources

## title

Vegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: a systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies

## url

https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2016.1138447

## doi

10.1080/10408398.2016.1138447

## canonical

https://thebalanceofhealth.com/sources/dinu-2017-vegetarian-vegan-diets-and-multiple-health-outcomes

## status

reviewed
## title

How prevalent is vitamin B12 deficiency among vegetarians?

## url

https://doi.org/10.1111/nure.12001

## doi

10.1111/nure.12001

## canonical

https://thebalanceofhealth.com/sources/pawlak-2013-prevalence-of-b12-deficiency-among-vegetarians

## status

reviewed