Frequently Asked Question
Health & NutritionDo Vegan Diets Cause Depression or Anxiety?
Last reviewed: April 10, 2026
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
Evidence Summary
What the Studies Show Several meta-analyses have examined the relationship between vegetarian/vegan diets and mental health: - A 2021 meta-analysis found vegetarians had higher depression scores than non-vegetarians (Askari et al., 2021)
- A separate 2021 systematic review found vegetarians/vegans showed higher depression scores but lower anxiety scores compared to omnivores (Iguacel et al., 2021)
- A 2022 review found inconsistent results across studies (Jain et al., 2022) ## Why
Supporting Evidence
The association is confounded by empathy, social stigma, reverse causation, and diet quality. A randomized trial found no causal effect.
Sources & Evidence
2 sources cited across 1 claim
1
Vegans show higher depression but lower anxiety scores
Meta-AnalysisVegetarian diet and depression scores: A meta-analysis — Askari M et al. (2021)