Vegan lifestyle could harm people and become a major hunger problem, says expert Professor Elliott said the vegan trend could become a ‘major contributor to hidden hunger in the developed world’

An expert has warned that vegans may be missing out on essential nutrients that could lead to malnutrition.

Veganism has soared in popularity over the last few years with many even dropping their vegetarian diets for plant-based ones.

But Professor Chris Elliott, director of the Institute for Global Food Safety, has warned that vegans are at greater risk of nerve damage and breaking bones.

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‘Serious micronutrient deficiencies’

According to the Times, Professor Elliott said the vegan trend could become a “major contributor to hidden hunger in the developed world”.

Unlike vegetarians, vegans don’t eat dairy products and eggs and he said vegans who don’t plan their diets to include all the necessary vitamins and nutrients could face “serious micronutrient deficiencies”.

He added: “Bone health is a concern for long-term vegans. Vegans are consistently reported to have lower intakes of calcium and vitamin D, with resultant lower blood levels of vitamin D and lower bone mineral density reported worldwide.”

Writing for The Conversation, he said bone fracture rates in vegans are almost a third higher than those who have a diet that also consists of meat.

Nerve damage

He added that levels of omega 3, iodine and vitamin B12 were also lower, and said: “The symptoms can be serious and include extreme tiredness and weakness, poor digestion and developmental delays in young children.

“Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can cause irreversible nerve damage.”

But Heather Russell, a dietitian from The Vegan Society, said: “Well-planned vegan diets contain all the nutrients that our bodies need. We work with the British Dietetic Association to share the message they can support healthy living in people of all ages.”