Overview

Vegetarian diets, such as the lacto-ovo-vegetarian or vegan diet, are diets that focus on eating plant products and avoiding or limiting animal products.

In lacto-ovo vegetarianism, meats are avoided, while milk and eggs are allowed. In the vegan diet, all animal products are avoided. Vegetarian diets usually involve eating lots of fruits and vegetables and are often high in fiber and low in fat. This might help people lose weight.

People use the vegetarian diet for diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. It is also used for athletic performance, heart disease, depression, high cholesterol, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for

  • Diabetes. The vegetarian diet is a healthy diet option for people with diabetes. It might help with blood sugar control. It might also reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
  • High blood pressure. Eating a vegetarian diet might reduce blood pressure by a small amount and benefit people with high blood pressure.
  • Obesity. Eating a vegetarian diet for at least 3 months seems to improve weight loss in people who are overweight or obese.

There is interest in using the vegetarian diet for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: The vegetarian diet is likely safe for most people. There's no reason to expect safety concerns as long as nutritional needs are met. Following a vegetarian diet can increase the risk for certain nutrient deficiencies, such omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: The vegetarian diet is likely safe for most people. There's no reason to expect safety concerns as long as nutritional needs are met. Following a vegetarian diet can increase the risk for certain nutrient deficiencies, such omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: The vegetarian diet is likely safe when pregnant or breast-feeding. There's no reason to expect safety concerns as long as nutritional needs are met. Following a vegetarian diet can increase the risk for certain nutrient deficiencies, such omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.

Children: The vegetarian diet is likely safe for children as long as nutritional needs are met. Deficiencies of certain nutrients may be a concern, including omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.

Iron deficiency: People who consume a vegetarian diet do not absorb as much iron as people who consume a non-vegetarian diet. If you consume a vegetarian diet, you might need to eat almost twice as much iron to meet your daily iron needs.

Weak bones: There is concern that people eating vegetarian diets have a greater risk of weak bones. Following a vegetarian diet might also increase the risk for thinner bones and bone fractures.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Vegetarian Diet overview.

Dosing

Vegetarian diets involve eating more plant-based foods and fewer or no animal-based foods. There are many different types of vegetarian diets, some are stricter than others. For example, in lacto-ovo vegetarianism, meats are avoided, while milk and eggs are allowed. In the vegan diet, all animal products are avoided. The appropriate or safe use of a vegetarian diet depends on several factors, including adequate intake of certain nutrients. Be sure to seek and follow relevant directions from your physician or other healthcare professional before starting this diet.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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