An unhealthy vegan diet has more sugary drinks and refined cereals which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (stock photo)

Poor-quality vegan diets may leave people at higher risk of cardiovascular disease than if they ate traditional fare, a conference in Dublin was told yesterday.

Dr Tom Butler, a senior lecturer in nutrition and dietetic at the University of Chester, said vegan plant-based diets needed to be well executed.

Veganism, which excludes meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy products, has exploded in popularity in recent years.

However, Mr Butler told the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health that such diets need to be well planned to be protective.

A study in 2017 found a healthy vegan diet includes wholegrains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes.

An unhealthy vegan diet has more sugary drinks and refined cereals which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

"It all comes down to the quality of the diet," he said.

Vegans can have micronutrient deficiencies and the diet can be lower in B12. People who follow a vegan diet may need to take a B12 supplement or yeast extract.

"You can do vegan diets very well if you consider a range of plant sources; you can also do them very badly," he added.

He said that recent evidence from randomised trials suggests that choosing white over red meat may not reduce cardiovascular disease risk - based on lipid and lipoprotein effects.

He said there is evidence that all red meats are created equal and that good quality, low fat, lean red meat with a saturated fat content of 3pc does not have the same effect on lipids that you'd expect and is entirely different to minced beef with up to 16pc saturated fat.

Meanwhile, Omega-3 fats have little or no effect on anxiety and depression, according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

Increased consumption of omega-3 fats is widely promoted globally because of a common belief that it will protect against, or even reverse, conditions such as anxiety.

But a systematic review published in the British Journal of Psychiatry finds that omega-3 supplements offer no benefit.

Omega-3 is a type of fat. Small amounts are essential for good health and can be found in the food that we eat, including nuts and seeds and fatty fish, such as salmon.

New research shows omega-3 fats are also readily available as over-the-counter supplements and are widely bought and used.

The research team looked at 31 trials of adults with and without depression or anxiety.

More than 41,470 participants were randomised to consume more long-chain omega-3 fats (fish oils), or maintain their usual intake, for at least six months.

The research, at Norwich Medical School and published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, found that the supplements had little or no effect in preventing depression or anxiety symptoms in those taking the fats.

Irish Independent