Do Vegan Diets Cause Depression or Anxiety?
Summary
Some meta-analyses find higher depression scores among vegetarians/vegans, but causation has not been established. The association likely reflects confounders including empathy, social stigma, and reverse causation rather than dietary effects.
Supported by 2 cited sources
Key Points
- 1The observed association between vegan diets and depression is real but almost certainly not causal.
- 2A 2024 randomized trial (NEW Soul Study) comparing participants randomized to vegan vs. omnivorous diets found no significant differences in mental health outcomes. This experimental evidence directly contradicts a causal link.
- 3When diet quality is controlled for, higher-quality vegan diets are associated with lower depressive symptoms. The issue is diet quality, not diet type.
Evidence Summary
What the Studies Show
Several meta-analyses have examined the relationship between vegetarian/vegan diets and mental health:
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A 2021 meta-analysis found vegetarians had higher depression scores than non-vegetarians (Askari et al., 2021)
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A separate 2021 systematic review found vegetarians/vegans showed higher depression scores but lower anxiety scores compared to omnivores (Iguacel et al., 2021)
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A 2022 review found inconsistent results across studies (Jain et al., 2022)
A 2025 critical commentary in Appetite argued that comparing vegans to omnivores for mental health outcomes is "fundamentally flawed" due to profound confounders (Dobersek et al., 2025):
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Reverse causation: Individuals with depression or heightened empathy may be more likely to adopt plant-based diets
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Social stigma and minority stress: Vegans face documented discrimination and social isolation
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Ethical distress: Awareness of animal suffering may contribute to distress independent of diet
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Misclassification: Dietary groups are often poorly defined in studies
Supporting Evidence
The association is confounded by empathy, social stigma, reverse causation, and diet quality. A randomized trial found no causal effect.
The Bottom Line
Cross-sectional studies cannot distinguish whether the diet causes depression or whether more empathic individuals are drawn to veganism. The one randomized trial found no effect. Nonetheless, vegans should supplement with algae-derived DHA/EPA and B12 to address biological mechanisms that could contribute to mood disorders if left unaddressed.
Practical Takeaways
While causation is unlikely, vegans should address biological factors that could contribute to mood disorders:
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DHA/EPA: Vegans have 40-60% lower blood levels. Algae-derived supplements (200-300 mg combined) are recommended
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B12: Deficiency has documented links to neuropsychiatric symptoms. Supplementation is essential
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Social support: Building community with other vegans helps manage social stress
Sources & Evidence
2 sources cited across 1 claim
Vegans show higher depression but lower anxiety scores
Meta-Analysis