France, April 6 -- Vegetarian diets can help reduce diabetes and other chronic illnesses, the French health and safety agency has concluded, in the first study specifically examining diets free of animal products. While vegetarians and vegans are a minority in France, the numbers are on the rise.

The risk/benefit analysis leans in favour of a vegetarian diet, according to Anses, the French health and safety agency, which reviewed dozens of scientific studies and concluded that vegetarian and vegan diets can help reduce the incidence of several diseases.

The agency cautioned, however, that those who do not eat meat or animal products should be careful not to miss out on certain nutrients.

Anses defines a vegetarian diet as one without a...