Abstract

Vegan diets are currently attracting a great deal of attention. However, avoiding animal-based foods restricts the diet and is associated with risks, the extent and medical implications of which are at present not sufficiently understood. Elimination diets represent the usual therapeutic long-term management in the presence of food allergy. In order to understand the risks of vegan diets and to discuss these critically from the perspective of food allergies, the expertise of a nutritionist/dietitian with expertise in this area is indispensable. This position paper deals with the incentives behind and the benefits of a plant-based diet. The knowledge required to cover macro- and micronutrient dietary requirements is presented. Using the avoidance of cow’s milk as an example, the challenges of adequately meeting nutritional needs are identified and (so-called) milk alternatives are evaluated from an allergy and nutritional point of view. Finally, other plant-based (substitute) products are evaluated from the same perspective, as significant protein sources in vegan diets (e.g., legumes, nuts, and seeds) are at the same time potential and potent triggers of allergic reactions. However, the allergic potential of many substitute products cannot be fully assessed at present due to gaps in research. Wheat as the most important trigger for anaphylaxis in adults is also evaluated. Finally, the increase in ultra-processed products in the (vegan) food sector and their potential consequences for the immune system are discussed.

Please notice: There is an erratum to this article, which can be found at: https://www.dustri.com/nc/de/article-response-page.html?artId=191243&doi=10.5414%2FALX02400ECorr.

Author Details

Authors

• Imke Reese¹
• Christiane Schäfer²
• Barbara Ballmer-Weber³,⁴
• Kirsten Beyer⁵
• Sabine Dölle-Bierke⁶
• Suzanne van Dullemen⁷
• Uta Jappe⁸,⁹
• Sabine Müller¹⁰
• Sabine Schnadt¹¹
• Regina Treudler¹²
• Margitta Worm⁶

Departments

• ¹ Nutrition Therapy, Munich,
• ² NutritionTherapy, Schwarzenbek, Germany,
• ³ Clinic for Dermatology and Allergology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen,
• ⁴ Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland,
• ⁵ Clinic for Pediatrics with focus on Pneumology and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin – Campus Virchow-Klinikum,
• ⁶ Allergology and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin,
• ⁷ University Clinic Frankfurt, Clinic for Pediatrics, Frankfurt,
• ⁸ Division of Clinical and Molecular Allergology, Research Center Borstel, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel,
• ⁹ Interdisciplinary Allergy Outpatient Clinic, Department of Pneumology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck,
• ¹ 
• ⁰ Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Clinic Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg,
• ¹ 
• ¹ German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB), Mönchengladbach, and
• ¹ 
• ² Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany

Address

Dr. Imke Reese, Ernährungsberatung und -therapie, Schwerpunkt Allergologie, Ansprengerstr. 19, 80803 Munich, Germany
Email: [email protected]

Citation