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According to a small study, a vegan diet - i.e. completely avoiding food of animal origin - could have negative consequences for bone health.
This was indicated by certain biomarkers and ultrasound measurements, announced the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) on Tuesday.
For the study presented in the journal “Nutrients”, the bone health of 72 men and women (36 vegan, 36 eating mixed foods) was determined using ultrasound measurements on the heel bone.
Vegans had lower ultrasound readings on average.
According to the BfR, this can indicate lower bone health.
In the study, the scientists working with Juliane Menzel from the BfR also determined the concentration of twelve biomarkers in blood and urine that are important for bone health.
The amino acid lysine and vitamins A and B6, for example, were usually found in lower concentrations in vegans than in mixed foodists.
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This could mean that there is a lower intake of nutrients in this group, which are mainly present in foods of animal origin and are relevant for the skeleton.
"Our scientific findings indicate that the vegan diet has an effect on bone health," explained BfR President Andreas Hensel.