Source record
National guidance research index (legacy)
UK Eatwell Guide, German Nutrition Society (DGE), Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025, Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents, Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top, ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians, Brazilian Dietary Guidelines, Australian Dietary Guidelines (2024). Compiled by The Balance of Health.
Key findings
- Most national guidelines now state that well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets can meet nutritional needs, with attention to B12, iodine, iron, calcium, vitamin D and omega-3.
- Fortification practice differs: the US and Australia mandate folic-acid fortification of flour; European policies differ; UK folic acid fortification starts on 13 December 2026; China and Japan fortify little beyond iodised salt in China.
Record
- Source type
- Position Statement
- Study type
- Review
- Topics
- Nutrients to watch, Life stages
- Geography
- Europe, United States, China, Japan, India, Brazil, Australia
- Funding & conflicts
- Not recorded.
- Source quality
- Moderate evidenceAuthoritative national documents; the summary is ours and must be verified against each edition.
Limitations
- Guidelines are periodically revised; summaries here reflect the editions cited and should be re-checked annually.
Claims this source supports
HealthStrong evidence
Vegans need vitamin B12 from supplements or fortified foods; without one, deficiency is common and can cause lasting harm.
Yes. This is the one nutrient a vegan diet cannot supply on its own. A cheap supplement solves it.