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Experts have long said supplements are useless — but switching to vegan vitamin pills may offer more benefits, an intriguing twin study has suggested.
Ross and Hugo Turner, 36, from Christow in Devon, both took vitamins daily, while following a similar diet and workout plan.
Over the course of six months, Hugo followed a vitamin routine that involved taking liquid nutrients extracted from plants, like sea algae.
He also consumed a vegan form of Omega 3 oil, also extracted from plants in the ocean, as opposed to fish.
Ross, meanwhile, took an equivalent animal-based vitamin tablet every day.
At the end of the study, blood test results showed that Hugo, who took the vegan supplements, had far greater levels of the vital nutrients in his bloodstream, compared to his brother.
It is not the first time the brothers who are 'genetically identical' have compared the impact of a vegan meal-plan to an omnivore diet.
In 2020, they were tracked by scientists after adopting the two different diets side-by-side and discovered the vegan diet could shed fat faster.
In the fresh experiment, the twins were asked to regularly take blood tests which tracked the levels of fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
In an Instagram reel sharing the results with their 26,000 followers, Ross said: 'By the half way stage our blood results showed slight differences.
'But it was the end result that really highlighted the biggest changes.
'At the end of six months the blood tests showed the positive benefits of using plant based supplements, particularly with Hugo's improved Omega-3 index and a big increase in his D3 levels.'
Omega 3, found in oily fish and walnuts, is said to be beneficial for brain and heart health, while vitamin D is essential for keeping bones, teeth and muscles strong.
Some research has suggested that opting for a vegan diet packed with vegetables, whole grains and nuts could reduce the risk of dying from heart disease, slash biological age and even help lose weight.
Other studies, however, suggest that, long-term, a vegan diet may result in nutritional deficiencies and may not suit all ages.
The British brothers now plan to take on a 12-week fasting versus non-fasting diets to assess how the trendy weight-loss technique impacts their bodies.
In 2023, the duo also tested out whether working out for longer is more beneficial than short spurts of exercise.
For 12 weeks, Hugo worked out for 20 minutes and Ross did twice as much, exercising for 40 minutes.
Results showed that their physiques, strength and fitness increased nearly by the same amount.
Earlier this year, Hugo also followed a high fat, low-carb diet and began consuming most of his calories in olive oil, butter, nuts, eggs and avocado.
Meanwhile, Ross began a eating more high-carb foods such as pasta and rice and decreased his high-fat food intake.
They both continued to eat whole protein sources like chicken and protein shakes.
By the end of the 12 weeks, Ross gained 2.2 pounds of muscle and lost two pounds of fat after following the high-carb diet.
He also lowered his cholesterol and managed to decrease his internal visceral fat (the most dangerous type linked to chronic diseases) from 11.5 percent to 11.1 percent.
His brother Hugo saw a more mixed picture after his high-fat diet.
He gained 6.6 pounds, lost 0.6 pounds of fat, saw no changes in his cholesterol levels and increased his internal visceral fat from 11.4 percent to 12.6 percent.
Visceral fat is belly fat found deep within the abdominal cavity. It surrounds important organs, including the stomach, liver and intestines.
Interest in a plant-based diet has soared in recent years, with vegans citing ethical, environmental or health reasons.
The exact numbers of vegans now in the UK is almost impossible to establish.
But one recent survey suggested around 600,000 people are believed to be on a plant-based diet, while another in 2021 claimed that almost a third of Brits used alternative milks.
In recent years allergy-related diseases have also increased, with the World Health Organisation predicting that half the world’s population will suffer from an allergy by 2025.
Latest Government figures suggest around 2.4million adults are living with a food allergy in the UK, with hospital admissions for severe reactions more than tripling within the last 20 years.
Children with allergies are considered to be especially at risk from severe reactions as, due to their smaller body size, small amounts of allergens provoke bigger reactions.
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