COVID
Lowest COVID risk among the diet groups studied
41%Lower severe-COVID risk on the healthiest plant-based diets
Vegans had the lowest COVID risk of the diet groups studied[1]. Across more than half a million people, the healthiest plant-based diets came with 9% lower COVID risk[2] and 41% lower risk of severe COVID[2]. Frontline health workers eating plant-based had 73% lower odds of moderate-to-severe COVID[3].
What the evidence says
The main points first. Every claim is tied to a source below.
Vegans had the lowest COVID risk among the diet groups studied
Among the diet groups compared, vegans had the lowest COVID risk[1]. The study is observational, and people who eat this way tend to do other healthy things too, but the direction held after the usual adjustments.
Read full article →The healthiest plant-based diets came with 41% lower severe-COVID risk
Across 592,571 people, those with the highest healthful plant-based diet scores had 9% lower COVID risk and 41% lower severe-COVID risk than those with the lowest[1]. Diet quality drove the result, so junk plant food doesn’t count.
Read full article →Frontline health workers who ate plant-based had 73% lower odds of moderate-to-severe COVID
In a study of frontline health workers, those eating plant-based diets had 73% lower odds of moderate-to-severe COVID[1], while those on low-carb, high-protein diets had higher odds[1].
Read full article →Articles
Plant-based eaters had less COVID and less severe COVID
Vegans had the lowest COVID risk of the diet groups studied, the healthiest plant-based diets came with 41% lower risk of severe COVID across 592,571 people, and plant-based frontline health workers had 73% lower odds of moderate-to-severe illness.
Read full article →
Sources
Papers and datasets. Each card keeps its caveats, including small samples and single-animal cases.
[1]PMC · Observational
Plant-based diets and COVID-19
Vegans had the lowest COVID risk among diet groups studied.
[2]Gut, 2021 · Observational
Diet quality and COVID-19 risk and severity
Across 592,571 people, the highest healthful plant-based diet score came with 9% lower COVID risk and 41% lower severe-COVID risk than the lowest.
[3]BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 2021 · Observational
Plant-based diets and COVID-19 severity in health workers
Frontline health workers eating plant-based had 73% lower odds of moderate-to-severe COVID; low-carb high-protein eaters had higher odds.