Vegan, plant-based diets good for the planet, but bad for the brain?

A plate of meatballs made with a plant-based pork analogue. Going vegetarian might mean missing out on an important nutrient for your brain health. — Bloomberg

The momentum behind a move to plant-based and vegan diets for the good of the planet is commendable, but risks worsening an already low intake of an essential nutrient involved in brain health, warns a nutritionist in the online journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.

Choline is an essential dietary nutrient, but the amount produced by the liver is not enough to meet the requirements of the human body. It is critical to brain health, particularly during foetal development.