Do 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

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Supporting Evidence

The association is confounded by empathy, social stigma, reverse causation, and diet quality. A randomized trial found no causal effect.

Sources:

Sources & Evidence

2 sources cited across 1 claim

Vegans show higher depression but lower anxiety scores

Meta-Analysis

Vegetarianism and veganism compared with mental health and cognitive outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis — Iguacel I et al. (2021)View source ↗

Vegetarian diet and depression scores: A meta-analysis — Askari M et al. (2021)

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or nutritional advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes.