Eating in line with the EAT–Lancet diet, a plant-forward dietary pattern designed to support both human and planetary health, did not lead to widespread nutrient deficiencies in a large Swedish population study.
Researchers at Lund University analyzed data from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, which followed about 26,000 adults for up to 30 years. The findings were published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
Participants whose eating patterns most closely aligned with the EAT–Lancet diet consumed more wholegrains, legumes, fruits and vegetables and less meat and dairy. Despite lower meat intake, most individuals achieved sufficient levels of key vitamins and minerals, based on both dietary analysis and blood biomarkers.
“There have been concerns that a diet with less meat and other animal products would increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies. But we did not see that,” said Anna Stubbendorff, a dietitian and doctoral researcher at Lund University. “On the contrary, most of those who ate in line with the planetary dietary guidelines had good nutritional status.”
Blood-based measures of folate, vitamin D, zinc, selenium and hemoglobin were largely comparable between those eating a more climate-friendly diet and those consuming a more animal-heavy pattern. Folate levels were actually higher among participants following the plant-forward pattern. However, the study did observe a slightly higher rate of iron-deficiency anemia among women in the more climate-aligned group, 4.6% compared with 3.3% in other participants. The difference was small, but the researchers note that women of childbearing age may need to pay closer attention to iron intake.
The analysis also examined long-term health outcomes. In earlier work from the same cohort, individuals whose diets most closely matched the EAT–Lancet pattern had a 33% lower relative risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with those with the lowest adherence. Overall premature mortality was about 25% lower, and cancer-related mortality was nearly as much lower. These are relative risk reductions and reflect associations, not proof that the diet directly caused the differences.
In a separate analysis estimating the greenhouse-gas emissions of participants’ diets, those with the highest food-related emissions had a 38% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those with the lowest emissions, even after accounting for social and lifestyle factors. Again, these findings show associations rather than direct causation.
Measuring diet accurately is challenging, but the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study used a detailed method combining food diaries, questionnaires and interviews. The researchers acknowledge that dietary patterns from the 1990s may not perfectly reflect current eating habits, but they consider the findings robust.
The results suggest that reducing meat intake and shifting toward more wholegrains and legumes does not automatically compromise nutrient status for most adults. For readers concerned about both long-term health and sustainability, the takeaway is practical: a balanced, plant-forward eating pattern can meet nutritional needs when thoughtfully constructed. Particular groups, including women at risk for iron deficiency, may require additional attention to specific nutrients.
Funding for the research came from several independent academic and public-interest sources, including the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, the Pålsson Foundation, the Crafoord Foundation, the Agenda 2030 Graduate School at Lund University, the Independent Research Fund Denmark and the Danish Diabetes Association. The study was based on data from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, and the authors acknowledged the contributions of study staff and participants.