Potentially critical nutrients in the vegan diet
In most cases, natural and wholesome plant-based foods have more nutrients and fewer calories than animal products. In principle, almost all nutrients can be covered by a well-planned, whole-food, vegan diet.
The DGE classifies the following nutrients as critical: Vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin B2, iodine, zinc, iron, selenium, calcium, proteins and omega-3 fatty acids. Of these, however, vitamin B12 and vitamin D in particular are critical (especially in winter). They are not found in plants, so to speak. Iodine can also become critical because our soils are low in iodine. For some nutrients, you have to consider bioavailability, or especially those factors that influence intake. Just because a nutrient is considered critical does not mean that it is critical in every individual case. Each person eats an individual diet and has an individual absorption capacity for each nutrient. The listed nutrients are only potentially lacking in a vegan diet.
In principle, almost all nutrients can be covered by a well-planned, whole-food, vegan diet.
This page provides an overview of the nutrients. Information on the individual nutrients can be found by clicking on the respective image.
