{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T09:48:47Z","timestamp":1782899327156,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"13","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782864000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Program Groningen"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Shifting toward more plant-based diets is promoted for health, environmental, and ethical reasons. However, the nutritional consequences of reducing animal-based foods, particularly across age groups with specific dietary needs, remain insufficiently understood. Methods: In this simulation study, we used dietary intake data from 3570 participants in the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (2019\u20132021) to evaluate how replacing animal-based foods with plant-based alternatives affects the intake of protein, essential amino acids (EAAs), vitamins, and minerals across different age groups. Two substitution scenarios were modeled: a nutritionally conscious and a less conscious plant-based dietary pattern. Results: Total protein intake decreased in both scenarios, with the strongest reductions observed in elderly individuals (71\u201379 years). Vitamin intake, particularly B vitamins and vitamin A, declined in most age groups, and vitamin D remained chronically low. Mineral intake also decreased, notably for calcium, iron, iodine, selenium, and zinc, especially among women and adolescents. Conclusions: These results underscore the importance of dietary planning and targeted fortification when promoting plant-based eating patterns. Future research should refine bioavailability estimates and evaluate the long-term health effects of such dietary transitions across life stages.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu18132127","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T08:19:02Z","timestamp":1782893942000},"page":"2127","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Shifting to Plant-Based Protein Diets Alters Nutrient Adequacy Across Age Groups: A Dutch Dietary Modeling Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2769-5079","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jan","family":"de Vries","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Nutrition Solutions, Gorssel, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-3640-8203","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"C\u00e9cile M.","family":"Singh-Povel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"FrieslandCampina, 3818 LE Amersfoort, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-4935-8349","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lizette A. A. C. M.","family":"Oudhuis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Science, 8901 BV Leeuwarden, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9618-2408","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paul","family":"de Vos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Healthy Eating & Food Innovation (HEFI), Sustainable Foods and Health Group, Maastricht University\u2014Campus Venlo, Villafloraweg 1, 5928 SZ Venlo, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0188-9097","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Renate","family":"Akkerman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Healthy Eating & Food Innovation (HEFI), Sustainable Foods and Health Group, Maastricht University\u2014Campus Venlo, Villafloraweg 1, 5928 SZ Venlo, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100548","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gfs.2021.100548","article-title":"Population protein intakes and food sustainability indices: The metrics matter","volume":"29","author":"Moughan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Glob. 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