Reducing the proportion of animal products on our plates is not only a public health issue, but also a nutritional challenge. But is it really possible to adopt a vegetarian diet without becoming unbalanced? A new French study, published in June 2025 in the European Journal of Nutrition, provides precise answers to this question. Using national INCA3 data, it models the impact of a plant-based diet on health and nutrient intake.
Objective: to quantify the benefits and risks of a moderate green diet
The study is not concerned with theoretical vegetarian or vegan diets, but with a actual sub-group of the French adult population (10.7 %), whose diet is the most plant-based (PB+), with over 80 % of energy and protein intake coming from plants.
The researchers compare this group with those whose diet is the least plant-based (PB-), in order to :
- Assess the prevalence of nutritional inadequacy (excess or deficiency)
- Estimate proven deficiencies in key nutrients
- Quantify the modelled health benefits, in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), if the entire population adopted the PB+ plan
Net public health benefits of a plant-based diet
Less disease, more healthy life
A switch to a vegetated regime (PB+) would avoid approximately 132,700 years of life with disability (range 125,400-140,000 DALYs).
The benefits relate to the main chronic diseases:
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Colorectal cancer
The gain is approximately twice as high for men than in women, due to a more marked improvement in intake (more fibre, less processed meat).
Nutritional inadequacies to watch out for
Compared to PB-, people in the PB+ group have :
Less risk of insufficiency for :
- Fibres
- Linoleic acid (omega-6)
- Potassium
- Vitamin C
But more risk of insufficiency for :
- Proteins
- Calcium
- Iron
- Iodine
- Selenium
- Vitamins A, B6, B12
- Riboflavin
From proven deficiencies are also more frequent for iodine and riboflavin in PB+.
Also worth noting: fewer saturated fatty acids exceeding the thresholds, but more for free sugars.
What are the nutritional factors involved?
The health benefits of the PB+ plan come from a combination of factors:
| Gender | Main mechanisms |
| Women | Less processed meat, more nuts, lower blood cholesterol |
| Men | More fruit, more fibre, less saturated fat |
What this means for those involved in nutrition
1. The moderate plant-based diet has been scientifically validated
This food model presents significant benefits without going strictly vegan. It is adaptable, culturally acceptable, and rooted in real-life practices.
2. Plant-based formulation = nutritional vigilance
To avoid the shortcomings observed in PB+, it is crucial to :
- Monitor the intake of vitamins B12, A, B6, iron, iodine, zinc, complete proteins
- Enrich, strengthen or intelligently combining plant sources
3. Balancing innovation
Brands can claim to be positioned on the basis of French research :
“A sensible, scientifically validated plant-based diet that combines health benefits with nutritional safety”.”
Conclusion
The greening of food benefits public health, with a net positive impact on the main chronic diseases.
But it is not something to be taken lightly: there are nutritional deficiencies, and must guide the formulation and recommendations.
Reference
Pauline Mombert, Jean-François Huneau, Juhui Wang, Jeanne-Marie Membré, François Mariotti. Limited risks of nutrient deficiency and significant modelled health benefits of adherence to a moderate plant-based diet in French adults. European Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 64, Article 200, June 2025. DOI