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

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 15; no. 10; p. 2243
• Main Authors: Wirnitzer, Katharina, Tanous, Derrick, Motevalli, Mohamad, Wagner, Karl-Heinz, Raschner, Christian, Wirnitzer, Gerold, Leitzmann, Claus, Rosemann, Thomas, Knechtle, Beat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 09.05.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Athletes; Body mass; Body mass index; Body size; Carbohydrates; Chi-square test; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; diet type; Diet, Vegan; Diet, Vegetarian; Endurance; exercise training; Humans; marathon; Marathons; Nutrition; Nutrition research; plant-based; Recreation; Running; Statistical analysis; Subgroups; Veganism; Vegetarian diet; Vegetarianism; Vegetarians; running; diet type; half-marathon; marathon; exercise training; plant-based; competition; endurance
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15102243

The potential running or endurance performance difference based on following different general types of diets, such as omnivorous, vegetarian, or vegan, remains questionable. Several underlying modifiable factors of long-distance running performance, especially runner training behaviors and experience, diminish the clarity of results when analyzing dietary subgroups. Based on the cross-sectional design (survey), the NURMI Study Step 2 aimed to investigate a plethora of training behaviors among recreational long-distance running athletes and the relationship of general diet types with best time race performance. The statistical analysis was based on Chi-squared and Wilcoxon tests. The final sample ( = 245) included fit recreational long-distance runners following an omnivorous diet ( = 109), a vegetarian diet ( = 45), or a vegan diet ( = 91). Significant differences were found between the dietary subgroups in body mass index ( = 0.001), sex ( = 0.004), marital status ( = 0.029), and running-related motivations for well-being ( < 0.05) but not in age ( = 0.054). No significant difference was found for best time half-marathon, marathon, and/or ultra-marathon race performance based on diet type ( > 0.05). Whether the vegan diet is associated with enhanced endurance performance remains unclear. Although, the present results are suggestive that 100% plant-based (vegan) nutrition is compatible with distance running performance at the least.