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Vegetarian and Omnivorous Nutrition - Comparing Physical Performance
Joel C Craddock1, Yasmine C Probst, Gregory E Peoples
1School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
|November 17, 2015
Summary
Vegetarian diets do not significantly impact athletic performance. A systematic review found no performance differences between vegetarian and omnivorous diets in athletes, suggesting further research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Nutritional Science
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Vegetarian diets are linked to reduced chronic disease risk.
- Athletes increasingly adopt vegetarian diets for health and performance.
- Physical activity complements dietary choices for health management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review evidence on vegetarian diets and athletic performance.
- To determine if vegetarian diets enhance or impede physical performance in athletes.
- To synthesize findings from studies comparing vegetarian and omnivorous diets in athletes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of the SCOPUS database.
- Keywords: vegetarian OR vegan AND sport OR athlete OR training OR performance OR endurance.
- Inclusion criteria: direct comparison of vegetarian vs. omnivorous diets, direct assessment of physical performance, no supplementation emulation.
Main Results:
- Eight studies (7 RCTs, 1 cross-sectional) met inclusion criteria.
- No significant differences in physical performance were found between vegetarian and omnivorous diets.
- Vegetarian diets neither improved nor hindered athletic performance.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support vegetarian diets as enhancing athletic performance.
- Variability in study designs necessitates further research.
- More high-quality studies are required to definitively assess the impact of vegetarian diets on athletic performance.
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