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Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(08): 715-720
DOI: 10.1055/a-1753-1322
Training & Testing

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

Alice Conrado de Souza
1   Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, Brazil
,
Marcos da Silva Brandão
2   Postgraduate Program in Nutrition Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, Brazil
,
David Lima Oliveira
2   Postgraduate Program in Nutrition Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, Brazil
,
Felipe Garcez de Carvalho
2   Postgraduate Program in Nutrition Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, Brazil
,
Marcela Larissa Costa
2   Postgraduate Program in Nutrition Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, Brazil
,
José Carlos Aragão-Santos
3   Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, Brazil
,
Marcus Vinícius Santos do Nascimento
4   Department of Nutrition, Universidade Tiradentes, Aracaju, Brazil
,
Marzo Edir Da Silva-Grigoletto
1   Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, Brazil
,
Raquel Simões Mendes-Netto
5   Nutrition Department, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, Brazil
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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


Publication History

Received: 06 July 2021

Accepted: 26 January 2022

Article published online:
27 January 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14,70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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