Health Status of Female and Male Vegetarian and Vegan Endurance Runners Compared to Omnivores-Results from the NURMI Study (Step 2)

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2018 Dec 26

PMID 30583521

Citations 34

Authors

Katharina Wirnitzer

Patrick Boldt

Christoph Lechleitner

Gerold Wirnitzer

Claus Leitzmann

Thomas Rosemann

Beat Knechtle

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Health effects of vegetarian and vegan diets are well known. However, data is sparse in terms of their appropriateness for the special nutritional demands of endurance runners. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the health status of vegetarian (VER) and vegan endurance runners (VGR) and compare it to omnivorous endurance runners (OR). A total of 245 female and male recreational runners completed an online survey. Health status was assessed by measuring health-related indicators (body weight, mental health, chronic diseases, and hypersensitivity reactions, medication intake) and health-related behavior (smoking habits, supplement intake, food choice, healthcare utilization). Data analysis was performed by using non-parametric ANOVA and MANOVA. There were 109 OR, 45 VER and 91 VGR. Significant differences ( < 0.05) were determined for the following findings: (i) body weight for VER and VGR was less than for OR, (ii) VGR had highest scores, and (iii) VGR reported the lowest prevalences of allergies. There was no association ( > 0.05) between diet and mental health, medication intake, smoking habits, supplement intake, and healthcare utilization. These findings support the notion that adhering to vegetarian kinds of diet, in particular to a vegan diet, is associated with a good health status and, thus, at least an equal alternative to an omnivorous diet for endurance runners.

Citing Articles

Dietary Habits and Race Day Strategies among Flexitarian, Vegetarian, and Vegan Recreational Endurance Runners: A Cross-Sectional Investigation from The NURMI Study (Step 2).

Tanous D, Motevalli M, Leitzmann C, Wirnitzer G, Rosemann T, Knechtle B Nutrients. 2024; 16(11).

PMID: 38892580 PMC: 11174902. DOI: 10.3390/nu16111647.

Racing Experiences of Recreational Distance Runners following Omnivorous, Vegetarian, and Vegan Diets (Part B)-Results from the NURMI Study (Step 2).

Wirnitzer K, Tanous D, Motevalli M, Wagner K, Raschner C, Wirnitzer G Nutrients. 2023; 15(10).

PMID: 37242128 PMC: 10221200. DOI: 10.3390/nu15102243.

Training Behaviors and Periodization Outline of Omnivorous, Vegetarian, and Vegan Recreational Runners (Part A)-Results from the NURMI Study (Step 2).

Wirnitzer K, Tanous D, Motevalli M, Raschner C, Wagner K, Wirnitzer G Nutrients. 2023; 15(7).

PMID: 37049635 PMC: 10096545. DOI: 10.3390/nu15071796.

Dietary Antioxidants, Quality of Nutrition and Cardiovascular Characteristics among Omnivores, Flexitarians and Vegetarians in Poland-The Results of Multicenter National Representative Survey WOBASZ.

Kwasniewska M, Pikala M, Grygorczuk O, Waskiewicz A, Stepaniak U, Pajak A Antioxidants (Basel). 2023; 12(2).

PMID: 36829779 PMC: 9952668. DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020222.

Change to a Plant-Based Diet Has No Effect on Strength Performance in Trained Persons in the First 8 Weeks-A 16-Week Controlled Pilot Study.

Isenmann E, Eggers L, Havers T, Schalla J, Lesch A, Geisler S Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(3).

PMID: 36767221 PMC: 9914713. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031856.

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