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Going Vegan for the Gain: A Cross-Sectional Study of Vegan Diets in Bodybuilders during Different Preparation Phases.

International journal of environmental research and public health
January 1, 1970
Stefano Amatori et al. (8 authors)
Observational StudyJournal ArticleHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to compare nutritional intakes between vegan and omnivorous bodybuilders during bulking and cutting phases to assess the adequacy of a plant-based diet for muscle growth and maintenance.

Results Summary

Both vegans and omnivores had similar energy, carbohydrate, and fat intakes, but vegans reduced protein intake during cutting. Vegan bodybuilders may struggle to meet protein needs during caloric deficits, suggesting a need for professional nutritional planning.

Population

18 male and female natural bodybuilders (8 vegans, 10 omnivores).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

5 days per phase (bulking and cutting)

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
vegan diet
no change
all stages of the life cycle
-
-
might be appropriate
#1
plant-based diet
increase
muscle growth
athletes, particularly in bodybuilding
-
needs to be addressed to build a balanced diet
#2
nutritional intakes
no change
macro- and micronutrient intakes
natural omnivorous and vegan bodybuilders
-
were compared
#3
vegan diet
no change
energy, carbohydrate, and fat intakes
vegans and omnivores
-
behaved similarly
#4
vegan diet
decrease
protein intake
vegans
-
decreased
#5
vegan diet
decrease
protein needs
vegan bodybuilders
-
may find difficulties in reaching
#6
nutritional professionals' assistance
increase
bridge the gap between the assumed proteins and those needed to maintain muscle mass
vegan bodybuilders
-
might benefit
#7
Abstract

Numerous athletes compete at a high level without consuming animal products; although a well-planned vegan diet might be appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, a few elements need to be addressed to build a balanced plant-based diet for an athlete, particularly in bodybuilding, in which muscle growth should be maximised, as athletes are judged on their aesthetics. In this observational study, nutritional intakes were compared in a cohort of natural omnivorous and vegan bodybuilders, during two different phases of preparation. To this end, 18 male and female bodybuilders (8 vegans and 10 omnivores) completed a food diary for 5 days during the bulking and cutting phases of their preparation. A mixed-model analysis was used to compare macro- and micronutrient intakes between the groups in the two phases. Both vegans and omnivores behaved similarly regarding energy, carbohydrate, and fat intakes, but vegans decreased their protein intake during the cutting phase. Our results suggest that vegan bodybuilders may find difficulties in reaching protein needs while undergoing a caloric deficit, and they might benefit from nutritional professionals' assistance to bridge the gap between the assumed proteins and those needed to maintain muscle mass through better nutrition and supplementation planning.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsHumansVegansDiet, VeganCross-Sectional StudiesNutritional StatusSurveys and QuestionnairesDiet
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations2
Citations/Year1.0
Relative Citation Ratio0.71
NIH Percentile37.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.37
Normalized Score0.60
Related Supplements
Going Vegan for the Gain: A Cross-Sectional Study of Vegan D... | Panacea Index