Vegan diet
Intervention3 papers6 findings
A human study associates a vegan diet, compared with omnivorous diets, with serum total and LDL cholesterol, zinc and selenium, and plasma HbA1c, without specifying direction; vitamin B12 status is unchanged.
- Humans1
Outcomes
1Vitamin B12 status
no changein humans1Very low certainty
1 study
Vitamin B12 status
no changein humans1Very low certainty
Vegan diet has no effect on vitamin B12 status in humans.
“Vitamin B 12 status did not differ between both groups at any time.”
HumansCompared with omnivores2017 and 2021
Nutrition and health status in the follow-up of the risks and benefits of a vegan diet (RBVD) study · Scientific reports · 6 Oct 2026
Associations
5Zinc
downin humans1Very low certainty
1 study
Zinc
downin humans1Very low certainty
Vegan diet is associated with zinc in humans.
“Selenium and zinc serum concentrations were consistently lower in vegans.”
HumansCompared with omnivoresserum2017 and 2021
Nutrition and health status in the follow-up of the risks and benefits of a vegan diet (RBVD) study · Scientific reports · 6 Oct 2026
Selenium
downin humans1Very low certainty
1 study
Selenium
downin humans1Very low certainty
Vegan diet is associated with selenium in humans.
“Selenium and zinc serum concentrations were consistently lower in vegans.”
HumansCompared with omnivoresserum2017 and 2021
Nutrition and health status in the follow-up of the risks and benefits of a vegan diet (RBVD) study · Scientific reports · 6 Oct 2026
HbA1c
downin humans1Very low certainty
1 study
HbA1c
downin humans1Very low certainty
Vegan diet is associated with HbA1c in humans.
“Compared to omnivores, vegans had lower serum total and LDL cholesterol as well as plasma HbA1c at both time points.”
HumansCompared with omnivoresplasma2017 and 2021
Nutrition and health status in the follow-up of the risks and benefits of a vegan diet (RBVD) study · Scientific reports · 6 Oct 2026
LDL cholesterol
downin humans1Very low certainty
1 study
LDL cholesterol
downin humans1Very low certainty
Vegan diet is associated with LDL cholesterol in humans.
“Compared to omnivores, vegans had lower serum total and LDL cholesterol as well as plasma HbA1c at both time points.”
HumansCompared with omnivoresserum2017 and 2021
Nutrition and health status in the follow-up of the risks and benefits of a vegan diet (RBVD) study · Scientific reports · 6 Oct 2026
Total cholesterol
downin humans1Very low certainty
1 study
Total cholesterol
downin humans1Very low certainty
Vegan diet is associated with total cholesterol in humans.
“Compared to omnivores, vegans had lower serum total and LDL cholesterol as well as plasma HbA1c at both time points.”
HumansCompared with omnivoresserum2017 and 2021
Nutrition and health status in the follow-up of the risks and benefits of a vegan diet (RBVD) study · Scientific reports · 6 Oct 2026