Health

Study Challenges Vegan Claims of Healthier Gut: Diet Variety Matters More Than Avoiding Meat or Dairy

January, 07, 2025-05:11

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Study Challenges Vegan Claims of Healthier Gut: Diet Variety Matters More Than Avoiding Meat or Dairy

Vegans cannot assert that they possess a healthier gut compared to meat-eaters, as studies indicate that individuals' daily dietary choices hold greater significance than the mere inclusion of meat and dairy in their diets.
A research study involving 656 vegans, alongside over 1,000 vegetarians and nearly 20,000 meat-eaters, revealed that those who abstain from meat, dairy, and eggs do not necessarily exhibit a more favorable composition of gut bacteria.

While many vegans may believe they harbor superior gut microbiota—bacteria that reside within us and are influenced by our dietary habits, which can mitigate harmful inflammation associated with heart disease, strokes, and cancer—findings suggest otherwise.
Meat-eaters who consume a moderate amount of meat and a diverse array of fruits and vegetables possess similar types of beneficial bacteria in their guts as those found in healthy vegans, according to the new research.

Moreover, vegans with poor dietary habits were observed to have a lower presence of advantageous gut bacteria. This conclusion was drawn from a substantial cohort in the UK, who participated in the ZOE personal nutrition app and research study, documenting their dietary intake before their gut microbiota was analyzed through stool samples.

The study, conducted by researchers from King's College London and published in the journal Nature Microbiology, also indicated that vegans exhibited a deficiency in gut bacteria typically acquired through the consumption of dairy products.
These bacteria are so vital that they are incorporated into certain probiotic beverages aimed at enhancing gut health. Proponents of veganism have long championed the advantages of plant-based diets for the myriad microbes inhabiting our intestines. However, experts contend that this may not be entirely accurate.

Professor Nicola Segota, the senior author of the study from the University of Trento in Italy, stated: "The distinction between being vegan or vegetarian versus being a meat-eater is not as crucial for your gut bacteria as the actual content of your diet."

"When considering the bacteria residing in your gut, this research implies that there is no compelling reason to adopt a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle or to eliminate specific food groups such as meat or dairy from your diet."