Vegan, vegetarian & beyond: Popular yet poorly studied New podcast episode on plant-based diets

Completely or largely avoiding meat and other animal products has become perfectly normal for a growing number of people in Germany. The reasons for this trend are varied and numerous. Ethical concerns such as animal welfare, climate protection, and environmental impact often play a central role. But many also hope to improve their health. “Eating an almost entirely plant-based diet can have health benefits,” says Professor Cornelia Weikert in the latest episode of “Risiko,” the science podcast from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). However, cutting out meat doesn’t automatically make a diet healthy. “Even plant-based diets can be very unbalanced—for example, if they rely heavily on foods that are high in sugar, salt, or fat but low in essential vitamins and trace elements.”.

As a general rule, both a plant-based diet and a mixed diet require an adequate intake of nutrients, vitamins, and trace elements. Since meat and fish contain many important vitamins and trace elements, completely avoiding meat and fish can lead to certain deficiency symptoms. A sufficient intake of vitamin B12 is particularly important because it is generally not found in plant-based foods. Vitamin B12, for example, is important for the formation of blood and other metabolic processes in the body. People who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet should therefore pay particular attention to a balanced diet and, if necessary, take food supplements after consulting a doctor to meet their respective needs.

Studies by the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment also show that a vegan diet can affect the body's nutrient supply: For example, people who followed a vegan diet had noticeably low levels of iodine in their bodies, an element that is essential for growth, bones, and brain function. In addition, vegans had lower bone health scores. The corresponding BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment study thus supports the results of earlier studies, which found that vegans often have lower bone density. However, they had sufficient levels of vitamin B12. “Fortunately, people who follow a vegan diet today are well informed that they should pay attention to their vitamin B12 intake,” says Weikert. On the other hand, a vitamin B12 deficiency is currently more common in vegetarian diets. Particularly sensitive population groups such as children, adolescents, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and seniors should therefore ensure that they have a carefully planned diet to avoid possible malnutrition.

On the other hand, there is now considerable evidence that a balanced plant-based diet has health benefits. For example, the occurrence of certain complaints and diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease is believed to be less common. 

Overall, however, there are still many gaps in the data on the effects of vegan and vegetarian nutrition on health. “One problem, for example, is that most of the studies to date were conducted in the 1980s and 1990s,” explains Weikert. Since then, the range of vegan sausage and meat substitute products in supermarkets and discount stores has grown considerably. How the consumption of such products affects eating habits and health in the long term has not yet been studied in any great detail.

A large-scale population study is now set to close these and other knowledge gaps. Coordinated by the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the COPLANT study is investigating how different types of diets affect health. The study looks not only at vegetarian and vegan diets, but also at the impact of mixed diets. Pescetarian diets—where fish is consumed but no meat—are also being examined. To do this, data on nutrition, lifestyle, and health will be collected from around 6,000 people across Germany. Anyone interested in participating can sign up now. All information about the study and how to take part is available on the COPLANT website at External Link:www.coplant-studie.de.

Link to the full podcast episode: (only available in German)
External Link:https://podcast.bfr.bund.de/8-vegan-vegetarisch-und-co-beliebt-aber-kaum-erforscht-008

Quotes and sound bites from the podcast episode may be used freely provided the source is acknowledged.

Daily newspapers, online news and social media posts are constantly warning of new health hazards: Plasticisers in sun creams, microplastics in the body or alleged harmful substances in food. What is actually true about these alleged hazards? How great is the risk for me personally? In our podcast "Risiko", we get to the bottom of such topics. In a relaxed, scientifically sound and easy-to-understand way. "Risiko" is released about once a month. In casual discussions with experts, we talk about real and perceived health risks posed by food, chemicals or consumer products. The podcast is only available in German.

COPLANT website
External Link:https://www.coplant-studie.de

FAQ on the COPLANT study
External Link:https://www.coplant-studie.de/en/coplant-study/frequently-asked-questions/

Does a vegan diet affect bone health? BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment study shows differences in bone status
External Link:https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/press-release/does-a-vegan-diet-lead-to-poorer-bone-health/

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMELshort forGerman Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture) in Germany. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises the Federal Government and the States (‘Laender’) on questions of food, chemicals and product safety. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts independent research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.