How Old Is the Oldest Vegan in the World? The Story of Loreen Dinwiddie

December 17, 2025 •

4 min read

Records indicate that the oldest documented vegan in the world, Loreen Dinwiddie, lived to an impressive 109 years old. While the quest for the oldest vegan often sparks debate, her case provides concrete evidence of a long life sustained by a plant-based diet, challenging perceptions about dietary limits and aging.

Quick Summary

The oldest documented vegan, Loreen Dinwiddie, lived to age 109, adhering to a plant-based diet for 90 years. Her life showcases an inspiring example of vegan longevity, though overall lifestyle is a key factor in extending lifespan.

Key Points

Record Holder: The oldest documented vegan was Loreen Dinwiddie, who lived to the age of 109 after being vegan for 90 years.
Beyond Diet: While Dinwiddie's case is compelling, longevity is influenced by a combination of a healthy diet and other lifestyle factors like exercise and stress management.
Blue Zone Connections: Populations in 'Blue Zones' known for extreme longevity, like the Adventists in Loma Linda, consume diets that are 95-100% plant-based.
Quality Matters: Not all vegan diets are equally healthy; a whole-foods, minimally processed vegan diet is most beneficial for health and longevity.
Inspiration, Not a Cure: While a plant-based diet can lower chronic disease risk, it's not a guaranteed path to extreme longevity and should be part of a broader health strategy.

The Story of Loreen Dinwiddie: A Century of Veganism

Loreen Dinwiddie, born in 1903, stands out as the oldest documented vegan, living to the remarkable age of 109. Her journey began in 1922, just a few years after her birth, when she adopted a fully plant-based diet. Her longevity and lifelong commitment to veganism have made her a notable figure in the community, often cited as a testament to the potential health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. Dinwiddie, a resident of Oregon, attributed her long life to her diet, which was rich in fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Throughout her 90 years as a vegan, she remained active and healthy, continuing her passion for painting well into her later years. Her story provides a powerful and verifiable example of a vegan centenarian, contrasting with unsubstantiated claims and highlighting the importance of a well-planned diet for long-term health.

Other Notable Vegan Centenarians

While Dinwiddie holds the record for the oldest documented vegan, other individuals have also achieved remarkable longevity while following a plant-based diet. These stories further illustrate the potential for vegans to live long and healthy lives:

Mike Fremont: This vegan athlete celebrated his 100th birthday in 2022 by running around his neighborhood in Florida. Fremont became vegan at age 69 after a cancer diagnosis and believes his diet contributed significantly to his recovery and subsequent vitality.
Mable Cluer: A founding member of the Vegan Society, Mable Cluer lived to the age of 103, a long life that began before the term 'vegan' was even coined.
Gladys McGarey: A centenarian doctor who is still living at 103, McGarey adheres to a primarily plant-based diet.

Veganism, Longevity, and Blue Zones

Research into longevity often highlights regions known as "Blue Zones," where people live significantly longer and healthier lives than average. These populations, such as the Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California, consume diets that are largely, if not entirely, plant-based. These communities, while not all strictly vegan, provide compelling evidence for the link between plant-centric eating and increased lifespan. Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern rich in whole grains, beans, and vegetables is a consistent feature in these zones. In the Adventist Health Study, researchers observed that non-vegetarian Adventists had a higher risk of heart disease compared to those following vegetarian or vegan diets. This further underscores how reducing or eliminating animal products can contribute to long-term health.

Diet Quality and Longevity

It is crucial to distinguish between a healthy, whole-foods vegan diet and an unhealthy, processed one. A vegan diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains provides essential fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients that help lower the risk of chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. However, a poorly planned vegan diet that relies heavily on processed junk food offers little to no health benefit and can lead to nutrient deficiencies. Studies show that only robust, well-planned plant-based diets are linked to an extended lifespan. For optimal longevity and vitality, incorporating a wide variety of nutrient-dense plant foods is essential.

A Comparison of Longevity


Feature	Oldest Confirmed Vegan (Loreen Dinwiddie)	Oldest Confirmed Human (Jeanne Calment)	General U.S. Population (2022)
Max Age	109 years	122 years, 164 days	76.1 years (life expectancy)
Dietary Pattern	Vegan (fruits, vegetables, nuts)	Omnivore (consumed meat, wine, chocolate)	Mixed (standard American diet)
Dietary Focus	Whole, unprocessed plant foods	High variety, included meat and sweets	Often high in processed foods
Longevity Evidence	Longest documented vegan life	All-time longest human lifespan	Varies significantly by lifestyle

The Holistic Approach to a Long Life

While diet is a critical component of longevity, it is not the only factor. The longest-lived vegans often share other health-conscious habits with their non-vegan centenarian counterparts. These include regular exercise, managing stress, prioritizing sleep, and maintaining strong social connections. Loreen Dinwiddie was known to be active and engaged with her art throughout her life. The residents of Blue Zones also practice these holistic lifestyle traits, including drinking plenty of water and having a strong sense of community. Combining a healthy, whole-foods vegan diet with these other lifestyle choices creates the optimal environment for extending both lifespan and 'healthspan'—the number of years lived in good health.

Conclusion: The Longevity of a Plant-Based Life

In conclusion, the title of the oldest vegan belongs to Loreen Dinwiddie, who lived to be 109 years old. Her story, along with other vegan centenarians like Mike Fremont and Mable Cluer, demonstrates that a well-planned vegan diet can support remarkable longevity. While the world's absolute longest-lived person was not vegan, the evidence from Blue Zones and long-term studies suggests that a predominantly plant-based diet is a cornerstone of healthy aging and reduced disease risk. A balanced, whole-foods approach, combined with other healthy lifestyle factors, offers a powerful strategy for extending a long and vibrant life. For those interested in exploring the potential of plant-based eating for health and longevity, consulting authoritative resources can be a great starting point, such as the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine(https://www.pcrm.org/news/health-nutrition/vegan-diets-could-increase-life-expectancy).

Frequently Asked Questions

The oldest documented vegan was Loreen Dinwiddie, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 109. She reportedly adopted a plant-based diet in 1922 and maintained it for 90 years.

While research suggests a correlation between healthy plant-based diets and a lower risk of premature death, being vegan does not guarantee a longer life. Other lifestyle factors, such as exercise, stress management, and avoiding harmful substances, play equally important roles.

Loreen Dinwiddie attributed her longevity to a simple diet primarily consisting of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. She adopted a very clean, whole-foods approach to eating.

The world's longest-lived person was Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to be 122 years old. She was not vegan and was known to have consumed meat, wine, and chocolate during her lifetime.

Yes, other documented vegans have lived to 100 or beyond, including Mike Fremont, an athlete who is a centenarian and became vegan later in life, and Mable Cluer, a founding member of the Vegan Society who lived to 103.

Vegans need to ensure adequate intake of essential nutrients often found in animal products. This includes vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids, often through fortified foods or supplements.

The quality of a vegan diet is highly important. Studies indicate that while a healthy, whole-foods vegan diet can increase lifespan and reduce disease risk, an unhealthy diet high in processed foods can negate these benefits.