Thread by @fleroy1974

Thread: HEALTH RISKS OF 'PLANT-BASED' DIETS

L Keith, ex-vegan, talks about how her diet led to catastrophy on the long run: amazon.com/Vegetarian-Myt…

For ex-vegans on twitter with similar stories, see twitter.com/fleroy1974/lis… - also check out @SBakerMD's #meatheals

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First, let's put aside the myth that plant-based makes you healthier. Those claims are based on weak and biased epidemiological associations (RR=0.8-0.9?? - seriously, that's just meaningless).

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The best plant gurus can get out of more controlled studies is the fact that it lowers total cholesterol and LDL-C. But, that's just another belief system - no point wasting time on the meat-gives-you-clogged-arteries propaganda...

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Suffices to mention that more interesting markers, such as HDL and TG, point towards detrimental effects.

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Here's another study showing just that: plant-based diets lead to worrying effects on risk markers

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And, according to the study below, things aren't going well on a plant-based diet at all. Poorer health (cancer, allergies, mental disorders) and lower quality of life.

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And it's not very reassuring to see that the levels of AGEs increase considerably too...

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All-too often, veganism just is an eating disorder.
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And notice how the (Seventh-Day Adventist-steered) position paper on vegan diets by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is in complete contrast with what is being said in Germany, both by the German Nutrition Society...

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... and the society for Pediatrics and Nutrition Science.

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The Swiss are in agreement and have written a detailed report on the matter: eek.admin.ch/eek/de/home/pu…

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Several nutrients may cause problems in restrictive 'plant-based' diets, some being very problematic. Supplementation may help (although often neglected), but some risks remain.

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This is a study from Denmark, showing low protein levels and multiple nutrient deficiencies. Vitamins B2, B12, A, and D, selenium, iodine, and concerns related to iron and calcium.

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Study from Finland: low protein, low levels of vitamins B12 and D, iodine, selenium, EPA, DHA.

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Subclinical protein malnutrition...

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Iodine deficiency in Norwegian vegans.

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More iodine deficiency...

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Vitamin B12-deficiency in HALF (!) of the British male vegans.

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Not only in the UK of course, vitamin B12 deficiences also seen in Australia, Germany, Italy, Austria, Hong Kong, India, ... A global problem. Goes hand in hand with atherosclerosis, by the way.

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Large scale data analysis: mutiple nutrient risks, including vitamins B6 and B12, choline, selenium. And protein of course.

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Study from Switzerland: vitamins B3, B6, Zn problematic. Low Ca and vitamin D intake. B12 seems less worrisome here. Higher supplementation discipline than other countries, apparently. They are Swiss after all.

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Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids: a recurrent problem that deserves more attention.

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Which brings us to the problem of nutrient deficiencies in pregnant women. I'm worried about the omega-3s, but too low levels of vitamin B12 is of course the most obvious one.

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It is especially distressing to read the many case reports related to infants from vegan mothers.

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It's a loooong list. The one below is certainly not complete. And this are just the case reports that ended up in the scientific literature. Who knows what the actual numbers are?

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More...

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And more...

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And how to quantify the damage caused by low EPA/DHA status in infants from vegan mothers?

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Yet, it is not only about infants. Children too are often a victim of the ideological choices of their parents.

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Also here, case reports to document the harm.

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So is veganism/vegetarianism a safe choice for children? Not if you do not want to risk their mental and physical development. Nutrient-dense animal foods are the safe way of providing them with what they need to thrive. Parents, please, don't take risks here.

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It is so obvious from nutritional interventions in developping countries that adding animal products to plant-based diets can make all the difference on growth, cognition, and behaviour in children.

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This should be among our top priorities: making sure that all children have a healthy start. Putting them on restrictive diets (either because of ideology or because of economic limitations) limits their potential.

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If not meat, at least milk (in those that can digest it, of course)

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And besides infants and children, let's not forget that adolescents are also still in the risk zone

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Which doesn't mean that adults will be safe, of course...

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And there are indications that women may expect an earlier menopause...

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Adding to the general pediatric concerns, the graph below shows the growth pattern of a "typical vegan infant" from a religious vegan community. Note how teh curve quickly drops below the 3% line. Plus: protein/kcal malnutrition, Fe, B12, Zn, rickets, infections.

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