Replacing dairy products with plant-based ones, such as oat and almond milks, could lead to people missing out on vitamins and minerals, a study suggests. Even doing a partial swap may lead to deficiency in nutrients such as iodine – which is essential for thyroid function and healthy brains, experts writing in the Lancet Planetary Health journal said.
The research also found that children, teenagers and women appeared to be worst affected by any swap to plant-based milks, yoghurt and cheese. Researchers looked at the risks of dropping dairy in favour of plant-based items, including 146 plant-based milks, 76 yoghurts and 67 cheese products.
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They examined the effect on micronutrient intake for iodine, calcium and vitamins B2 and B12. The researchers also found variations in the extent to which plant-based foods are fortified with added vitamins. Some 12% of plant-based items in the research contained added iodine, 61% had added calcium, 46% had vitamin B12 and 19% had riboflavin (vitamin B2).
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