Nutrient Intake and Status in Adults Consuming Plant-Based Diets Compared to Meat-Eaters: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Public Health
• Dietary Research

Background:

• Growing recommendations for plant-based diets due to health and environmental benefits.
• Plant-based diets are characterized by high intake of fruits, vegetables, pulses, whole grains, and nuts, with reduced red meat consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and compare nutrient intake and status between plant-based (vegetarian, vegan) and meat-eating adult populations.
• To identify potential nutrient inadequacies across different dietary patterns.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of observational and intervention studies published between 2000 and January 2020.
• Analysis of nutrient intake and biomarker concentrations, benchmarked against dietary reference values.
• Inclusion of 141 studies primarily from Europe, South/East Asia, and North America.

Main Results:

• Plant-based diets showed higher intake of fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), folate, vitamins C and E, and magnesium.
• Lower intake and status of vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, and calcium were observed in plant-based diets, especially vegan diets.
• Meat-eaters were at risk for inadequate intake of fiber, PUFA, ALA, folate, vitamins D and E, calcium, and magnesium.

Conclusions:

• Nutrient inadequacies exist across all dietary patterns, including vegan, vegetarian, and meat-based diets.
• Public health initiatives should support transitions to balanced, nutrient-dense plant-based diets via education, food fortification, and supplementation.
• While beneficial, plant-based diets necessitate careful planning to ensure adequate micronutrient intake.