A new study reveals once again the serious nutritional deficiencies that may face who wants to follow the vegan food regime. Vegans might in fact need to pay more attention to their diets to ensure they’re getting enough nutrients. The study found that those following a plant-based diet were more likely to be deficient in D vitamins, vitamin B12, selenium, iodine and essential fatty acids. Researchers recommended vegans ensure their diet includes a diverse range of protein sources and plenty of fruit, berries and nuts.

Some vegans could be eating an unbalanced diet and therefore missing out on essential nutrients as a result. That’s the finding of researchers at the University of Eastern Finland, who followed the diets of vegans and a control group of non-vegans, as well as testing them for levels of several nutrients.

Researchers asked 22 vegans to report their food intake over three day period, and their nutrient levels were checked via urine and blood samples. The vegans had been following a plant-based diet for an average of eight years at the time of the study.

Their results were checked against those of a control group, and they showed that vitamin D levels were below the reference range in 24 percent of the vegan group. Some 6 percent of the control group were below the reference values for vitamin D.

Vegans also had lower concentrations of beta-carotene, iodine, selenium and essential fatty acids than the control group. Researchers recommend vegans use oil from rapeseed to boost their intake of essential fatty acids, and boost their intake of nuts and berries to ensure they get enough iodine and beta-carotene.

They also suggest vegans make use of foodstuffs fortified with additional vitamins. Some 91 percent of the vegan group in the study used vitamin B12 supplements, and the same percentage used a vitamin D product.

Source: Yle Uutiset