Active Vegetarians Show Better Lower Limb Strength and Power than Active Omnivores

Abstract

Vegetarian diets have become popular among athletes and active individuals and can have advantages for physical performance, but the results are still conflicting regarding muscle strength and power. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diet and physical performance of vegetarians through tests of dynamic, isometric, and relative strength; muscle power; and aerobic capacity. In this cross-sectional study, 32 vegetarians and 26 omnivores, who were physically active, were evaluated for the Healthy Eating Index and performance tested back squat, handgrip strength, isometric deadlift strength, jump with countermovement, and maximum aerobic speed (MAS). Improved diet quality (63.24±14.40 vs. 54±16.80, p<0.05), greater relative strength (1.03±0.23 vs. 0.91±0.12, p<0.05), and greater jump height (43.77±9.91 vs. 38.45±8.92, p<0.05) were found among vegetarians. No difference was seen in MAS (13.5±2 vs. 11±3, p>0.05) or isometric strength of upper limbs (77±29 vs. 70±50, p>0.05) and lower limbs (89±41 vs. 97±50, p>0.05). Thus, we conclude that vegetarians and omnivores show similar performance in strength and aerobic capacity, but in our sample, vegetarians show higher levels of relative strength and power.

Key words

vegetarianism - physical performance - muscle strength

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 06. Juli 2021

Angenommen: 26. Januar 2022

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
27. Januar 2022

• References

• 1 Melina V, Craig W, Levin S. Position of the academy of nutrition and dietetics: vegetarian diets. J Acad Nutr Diet 2016; 116: 1970-1980
• 2 Turner-McGrievy GM, Moore WJ, Barr-Anderson D. The interconnectedness of diet choice and distance running: results of the research understanding the nutrition of endurance runners (runner) study. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2016; 26: 205-211
• 3 Rogerson D. Vegan diets: Practical advice for athletes and exercisers. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2017; 14: 36
• 4 Wishart GM. The efficiency and performance of a vegetarian racing cyclist under different dietary conditions. J Physiol 1934; 82: 189-199
• 5 Clarys P, Deriemaeker P, Hebbelinck M. Physical fitness and health-related parameters in vegetarian and omnivorous students. Nutr Food Sci 2000; 30: 243-249
• 6 Lynch HM, Wharton CM, Johnston CS. Cardiorespiratory fitness and peak torque differences between vegetarian and omnivore endurance athletes: A cross-sectional study. Nutrients 2016; 8: 726
• 7 Nebl J, Haufe S, Eigendorf J. et al. Exercise capacity of vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian and omnivorous recreational runners. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2019; 16: 23
• 8 Boutros GH, Landry-Duval M-A, Garzon M. et al. Is a vegan diet detrimental to endurance and muscle strength?. Eur J Clin Nutr 2020; 74: 1550-1555
• 9 Willett W. Nutritional Epidemiology. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 1998
• 10 Matsudo S, Araújo T, Matsudo V. et al. Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física (IPAQ): Estudo de validade e reprodutibilidade no Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física e Saúde 2001; 62: 5-18
• 11 Petroski EL. Antropometria: Técnicas e Padronizações. 4 Ed. Porto Alegre, Editora Pallotti; 2009: 130–148
• 12 Harttig U, Haubrock J, Knüppel S. et al. The MSM program: Web-based statistics package for estimating usual dietary intake using the multiple source method. Eur J Clin Nutr 2011; 65: S87-S91
• 13 Brasil. Registro Fotográfico Para Inquéritos Dietéticos – Utensílios e Porções. Brasília, 1996: 20–71
• 14 Fisberg RM, Marchioni DML. Manual de Avaliação do Consumo Alimentar em Estudos Populacionais: A Experiência do Inquérito de Saúde em São Paulo (ISA). São Paulo: 2012: 14–19
• 15 Souza JPM, Lima MM, Horta PM. Diet quality among the Brazilian population and associated socioeconomic and demographic factors: analysis from the national dietary survey 2008–2009. J Acad Nutr Diet 2019; 11: 1866-1874
• 16 Léger L, Boucher R. An indirect continuous running multistage field test: the Université de Montréal track test. Can J Appl Sport Sci 1980; 5: 77-84
• 17 Guerra RS, Amaral TF, Sousa AS. et al. Comparison of jamar and bodygrip dynamometers for handgrip strength measurement. J Strength Cond Res 2017; 31: 1931-1940
• 18 Fisher J, Van-Dongen M, Sutherland R. Combined Isometric and Vibration training does not enhance strength beyond that of isometric training alone. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2015; 55: 899-904
• 19 Simão R, Farinatti PTV, Polito MD. et al. Influence of exercise order on the number of repetitions performed and perceived exertion during resistance exercises. J Strengh Cond Res 2005; 19: 152-156
• 20 Komi PV, Bosco C. Utilization of stored elastic energy in leg extensor muscles by men and women. Med Sci Sports 1978; 10: 261-265
• 21 Suchomel TJ, Nimphius S, Stone MH. The importance of muscular strength in athletic performance. Sports Med 2016; 46: 1419-1449
• 22 Pohl A, Schünemann F, Bersiner K. et al. The impact of vegan and vegetarian diets on physical performance and molecular signaling in skeletal muscle. Nutrients 2021; 13: 3884
• 23 Krings BM, Rountree JA, McAllister MJ. et al. Effects of acute carbohydrate ingestion on anaerobic exercise performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2016; 13: 40
• 24 Thomas DT, Erdman KA, Burke LM. Nutrition and athletic performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2016; 48: 543-568
• 25 Craddock JC, Probst YC, Peoples GE. Vegetarian and omnivorous nutrition - comparing physical performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2016; 26: 212-220
• 26 Hevia-Larraín V, Gualano B, Longobardi I. et al. High-protein plant-based diet versus a protein-matched omnivorous diet to support resistance training adaptations: a comparison between habitual vegans and omnivores. Sports Med 2021; 51: 1317-1330
• 27 Haub MD, Wells AM, Tarnopolsky MA. et al. Effect of protein source on resistive-training-induced changes in body composition and muscle size in older men. Am J Clin Nutr 2002; 76: 511-517
• 28 Campbell WW, Barton ML, Cyr-Campbell D. et al. Effects of an omnivorous diet compared with a lactoovovegetarian diet on resistance-training-induced changes in body composition and skeletal muscle in older men. Am J Clin Nutr 1999; 70: 1032-1039
• 29 Padovani RM, Amaya-Farfán J, Colugnati FAB. et al. Dietary reference intakes: Application of tables in nutritional studies. Rev Nutr 2006; 19: 741-760
• 30 Lynch H, Wharton C, Johnston C. Cardiorespiratory fitness and peak torque differences between vegetarian and omnivore endurance athletes: a cross-sectional study. Nutrients 2016; 8: 726
• 31 Król W, Price S, Śliż D. et al. A vegan athlete’s heart – is it different? morphology and function in echocardiography. Diagnostics 2020; 10: 477
• 32 Vitale K, Getzin A. Nutrition and supplement update for the endurance athlete: review and recommendations. Nutrients 2019; 11: 1289
• 33 Page J, Erskine RM, Hopkins ND. Skeletal muscle properties and vascular function do not differ between healthy, young vegan and omnivorous men. Eur J Sport Sci 2021; Online ahead of print.
• 34 Blancquaert L, Baguet A, Bex T. et al. Changing to a vegetarian diet reduces the body creatine pool in omnivorous women, but appears not to affect carnitine and carnosine homeostasis: a randomised trial. Br J Nutr 2018; 119: 759-770
• 35 Barbieri D, Zaccagni L, Babić V. et al. Body composition and size in sprint athletes. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2017; 57