Vegan Diet — Diets
Complete exclusion of animal products for health, environmental, and ethical considerations with growing evidence for cardiometabolic benefits.
Overview
A vegan diet excludes all animal-derived foods including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. The EPIC-Oxford study and Adventist Health Study-2 provide the largest cohort data, showing vegans have lower BMI, lower total and LDL cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and reduced type 2 diabetes risk compared to omnivores. A 2023 twin study from Stanford demonstrated significant cardiovascular risk factor improvements in twins randomized to vegan vs. omnivore diets over 8 weeks. Unlike WFPB, vegan diets may include processed foods, oils, and refined products. Critical nutrient attention is needed for B12, vitamin D, omega-3, iron, zinc, calcium, and iodine.
Indications
- Cardiovascular risk reduction
- Type 2 diabetes prevention and management
- Weight management
- Environmental sustainability
Mechanism of Action
Zero dietary cholesterol intake combined with high fiber reduces hepatic cholesterol pool and upregulates LDL receptor expression
Dosing
| Compound | Dose | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegan Diet | All plant-based foods; no animal products | Daily | Quality matters: whole foods preferred over processed vegan products |
Evidence Grade
GRADE C
Safety & Contraindications
- Vitamin B12 supplementation is absolutely essential
- Risk of deficiency in D, omega-3 DHA/EPA, iron, zinc, calcium, iodine
- Processed vegan foods can be high in sodium, sugar, and seed oils
- Requires nutritional knowledge for long-term health
- Growing children, pregnant/lactating women need careful planning