Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2025

An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field
Published on: May 26, 2020
The Relationship between Vegetarian Diet and Sports Performance: A Systematic Review
Juan Hernández-Lougedo1, José Luis Maté-Muñoz2, Pablo García-Fernández2
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Camilo José Cela University, 28692 Madrid, Spain.
Introduction:
In recent years, the vegetarian diet has increased in popularity among athletes. The aim of this review is to ascertain the differences in variables related to performance, nutritional intake, and health in athletes according to whether they are omnivores or vegetarians.
Methodology:
A literature search was carried out in different databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Dialnet, and Cochrane. The keywords used were "vegetarian diet", "vegan diet", "exercise", "sport", and "performance". After applying different inclusion criteria, six studies were included in the review.
Results:
No significant differences were obtained in variables related to physical performance (adherence exercise, Vo2Máx, muscle power, and sprint test) or health (body composition, psychological well-being, and social relationships), but dietary intake was significantly higher in carbohydrates and lower in proteins in vegetarian athletes (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
It cannot be affirmed that vegetarian subjects have a higher sports performance, for which more research should be carried out.
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Dietary Connections
Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
Optimal Foraging

