This study aims to investigate the impact of two plant-based diets-whole food plant-based (WFPB) and plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA)-vs. an omnivorous diet (Animal) on endurance and muscular strength in recreational athletes.
Plant-based diets are environmentally sustainable and beneficial for cardiovascular health, but athletes are often concerned that these diets do not contain enough protein to support athletic performance. However, few randomized trials investigating the effect of plant-based vs. omnivorous diets on athletic performance have been conducted. Within this randomized crossover trial, recreational runners and resistance trainers will be assigned to three diets for four weeks each (WFPB, PBMA, and Animal). PMBA is an emerging, modern type of plant-based diet for which the impact on athletic performance has not yet been assessed. Participants will complete athletic fields at baseline and after each diet, and athletic performance on diets and study feasibility in this cohort of recreational athletes will be assessed. The study design was inspired by the original SWAP-MEAT study that investigated cardiovascular risk factors in adults consuming 8-week omnivorous and plant-based meat alternative diets (Crimarco, 2020).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
24
Participants followed the WFPB, PBMA, and Animal diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.
Participants followed the WFPB, Animal, and PBMA diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.
Participants followed the PBMA, WFPB, and Animal diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.
Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States
Cooper 12-Minute Timed Run Test (Runners)
Change from baseline in distance covered on a 12-minute timed run after each diet phase
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12
Composite Machine Strength Index (Resistance Trainers)
Change from baseline in composite machine strength index (sum of 3-rep max chest press, leg press, and lat pull-down) after each diet phase
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12
Estimated VO2 max (Runners)
Change in VO2 max, estimated from training data compiled by Garmin Forerunner 235 after each diet phase
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12
Maximum push-up and pull-up test
Change from baseline in maximum number of repetitions completed of push-up and pull-ups prior to exhaustion after each diet phase
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12
Dietary intake and adherence
a. Nutrient composition of each diet and adherence to diet in servings of protein source consumed per week, via weekly dietary logs
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12
Diet satisfaction
Score on Food Acceptability Questionnaire, measuring taste, appeal, and overall diet satisfaction, after each diet. We used the "Food Acceptability Questionnaire", with a minimum value of 1 and a maximum value of 7. A higher score indicates better food acceptability.
Time frame: Week 4, Week 8, Week 12
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Participants followed the PBMA, Animal, and WFPB diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.
Participants followed the Animal, WFPB, and PBMA diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.
Participants followed the Animal, PBMA, and WFPB diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.