In general, vegans consume fewer calories and as a result they may experience many positive health outcomes from their focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc. However, people following a vegan diet need to consider calcium-fortified beverages and foods that are used as milk substitute; these include calcium-fortified soy drinks, calcium-fortified rice milk, tofu made with calcium-sulfate, and calcium-fortified soy yogurt.
In addition, vegans should be attentive to their intake of vitamin B12. A large scale study (Framingham Osteoporosis Study) showed an association between low vitamin B12 and low bone mineral density in men and women. Since vitamin B12 is largely available in meats, poultry, fish, and dairy products, vegans will need to look to fortified foods or supplements.
