Table 3.
Overview of suitable research items. (Arrows indicate an increase (↑), no change (→) or a decrease (↓)).
| Authors | Participants | Training Status | Study Design | Nutritional Intervention | Exercise Intervention | Performance Measurements | Outcome and Direction of Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baguet et al. (2011) | Group 1 (n = 10) Age: 21.5 ± 1.7 years Group 2 (n = 10) Age: 20.8 ± 1.4 years |
Physically active (2–3 h per week) | Intervention (5 weeks) |
Group 1: Mixed diet Group 2: Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet |
Sprint training (running and cycling) Week 1–2: 2× week Week 3–5: 3× week |
Power output on an electromagnetically braked cycle ergometer | Mean power output: ↑ (Independent of groups) |
| Blanquaert et al. (2018) | Group 1 (n = 10) Age: 25.9 ± 9.0 years Group 2 (n = 15) Age: 25.4 ± 7.1 years Group 3 (n = 14) Age: 25.5 ± 6.6 years |
- | Intervention (6 months) |
Group 1: Omnivorous diet Group 2: Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet + placebo Group 3: Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet + β-alanine and creatine |
- | VO2max (mL/kg/min) via an incremental cycling test |
VO2max: → Body weight: → (Independent of groups) |
| Boutros et al. (2020) |
n = 56 Age: 25.6 ± 4.1 years 28 vegan 28 omnivorous |
150–200 min aerobic physical activity/week | Cross-sectional | - | - | Estimated VO2max (mL/kg/min) via cycle ergometer Muscle strength (1RM of leg and chest press) |
Estimated VO2max in vegans: ↑ Muscle strength: → Body weight: → |
| Campbell et al. (1999) | Group 1 (n = 9) Age: 60 ± 1 years Group 2 (n = 10) Age: 58 ± 2 years |
Sedentary | Intervention (12 weeks) |
Group 1: Habitual omnivorous diet Group 2: Self-selected lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet |
Resistance training (2×/week) |
Dynamic muscular strength (1RM) |
Dynamic muscular strength: ↑ (Independent of groups) |
| Haub et al. (2002) | Group 1 (n = 10) Age: 63 ± 3 years Group 2 (n = 11) Age: 67 ± 6 years |
- | Intervention (12 weeks) |
Group 1: Self-selected lacto- ovo-vegetarian diet supplemented with beef Group 2: Self-selected lacto- ovo-vegetarian diet supplemented with vegetable protein (soy) |
Resistance training (3×/week) |
Muscular strength of the lower and upper body |
Lower body strength: ↑ (Independent of groups) Upper body strength: ↑ (Independent of groups) |
| Haub et al. (2005) | Group 1 (n = 10 Group 2 (n = 11) Age: 65 ± 5 years |
- | Intervention (14 weeks) |
Group 1: Self-selected lacto- ovo-vegetarian diet supplemented with beef Group 2: Self-selected lacto- ovo-vegetarian diet supplemented with vegetable protein (soy) |
Resistance training (3×/week) |
Muscular strength of the lower and upper body (Three maximum repetitions at 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of the 1RM at the time of the testing |
Lower body strength: ↑ (Independent of groups) Upper body strength: ↑ (Independent of groups) |
| Hevia-Larraín et al. (2021) |
n = 38 19 vegan Age: 26 ± 5 years 19 omnivorous Age: 26 ± 4 years |
physically active but not involved in resistance training for at least 1 year | Intervention (12 weeks) |
- | Resistance training (2×/week) |
Leg press 1RM | Lower body strength: ↑ (Independent of groups) |
| Hietavala et al. (2012) |
n = 9 Age: 23.5 ± 3.4 years |
Recreationally active | Intervention (18–24 days) |
Group 1 (n = 5): (1.) 4 d habitual omnivorous diet (2.) 10–16 d wash-out phase (habitual omnivorous diet) (3.) 4 d low-protein vegetarian diet Group 2 (n = 4): (1.) 4 d low-protein vegetarian diet (2.) 10–16 d wash-out phase (habitual omnivorous diet) (3.) 4 d habitual omnivorous diet |
- | VO2 (L/min) at 40%, 60% and 80% of VO2max VO2max |
After low-protein vegetarian diet: VO2 ↑ (at 40%, 60% and 80% of VO2max) |
| Kròl et al. (2020) |
n = 52 22 vegan Age: 32 ± 5 years 30 omnivorous Age: 30 ± 5 years |
Physically active (at least 3×/week) | Cross-sectional | - | - | Peak power output (W) VO2max (mL/kg/min) |
VO2max in vegans: ↑ Peak power output: → Body weight in vegans: ↓ |
| Lynch et al. (2016) |
n = 70 27 vegetarian 43 omnivorous Age: 21–58 years |
Competitive club sports team | Cross-sectional | - | - | VO2max (mL/kg/min) Peak torque leg extension |
VO2max (mL/kg/min) max in female vegetarians: ↑ VO2max (L/min): → Body weight in female vegetarians: ↑ (n.s.) |
| Nebl et al. (2019) |
n = 74 26 omnivorous 24 lacto-ovo vegetarian 24 vegan Age: 18-35 years |
Recreational runners | Cross-sectional | - | - | Maximum exercise capacity (Pmax/bodyweight) Power output related to lean body mass (Pmax/LBM) |
Maximum exercise capacity: → Power output related to lean body mass: → |
| Page et al. (2021) |
n = 25 16omnivorous Age: 21 ± 1 years 9 vegan Age: 24 ± 3 years |
No history of resistance or endurance exercise training in the preceding six months | Cross-sectional | - | - | VO2max (ml/kg/min) and (L/min) Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) force |
VO2max: → MVIC: → |
| Veleba et al. (2016) |
Group 1 (n = 7) Age: 57.7 ± 4.9 years Group 2 (n = 37) Age: 54.6 ± 7.8 years |
- | Intervention (12 weeks) |
Group 1: Hypocaloric (−500 kcal) conventional diet Group 2: Hypocaloric (−500 kcal) vegetarian diet |
Aerobic exercise 3×/week |
Maximum performance (Wattmax) VO2max (ml/kg/min) |
Group 1: Maximum performance: → VO2max: → Group 2: Maximum performance: ↑ VO2max: ↑ |
| Wells et al. (2003) |
Group 1 (n = 10) Group 2 (n = 11) Age: 59-78 years |
- | Intervention (12 weeks) |
Group 1: Self-selected lacto-ovo vegetarian diet + beef protein supplement (0.6 g/kg/day) Group 2: Self-selected lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet + vegan protein supplement (0.6 g/kg/day) |
Resistance training (3×/week) |
Maximal strength (1RM) |
Baseline maximal strength: → Maximal strength after 12 weeks of resistance training: ↑ (independent of group) Strength in knee extension in Group 2 compared to Group 1: ↑ |