Table 1: Overview of early studies on strict vegetarian (vegan) diets in sports.
Setting |
Timeline |
Studies & Results (in extracts, abbreviated) |
Laboratory testing |
1904-1907 |
1904 & 1907: Plant-based diets affecting physical performance (hand-grip meter, stationary bicycle) [50,51] Ø Male subjects (students, fellow faculty members, and himself) Ø Plant-based diet: Subjects exercised more, with less fatigue, vs. diet based on animal protein 1907: Series of tests (holding horizontal arm position, deep knee bends) comparing stamina and strength of meat eaters vs. vegetarians (Fisher’s classic study) [52] Ø Males, fed different diets, consecutively tested: Meat-eating athletes, vegetarian athletes, vegetarian sedentary subjects Ø Compared to meat-eaters: Vegetarian athletes had twice the stamina, far more endurance Ø Meat eating athletes: Outperformed even by vegetarian sedentary subjects Ø Difference in endurance performance was entirely put down to diet Ø Strong evidence: Vegetarian diets increase endurance
|
1968 |
Fisher’s classic study repeated (stationary bicycle to measure strength and endurance) [54]: Ø Initially mixed diet (meat, vegetables) -> pedalling time until muscle failure: 114 min Ø Re-test: High animal protein diet (rich in meat, milk, eggs) -> big drop in time: 57 min Ø Final re-test: Strict vegetarian (vegan) diet (grains, vegetables, fruits; no animal foods) -> pedalling time: 167 min Ø Vegan diet had: v Three-times better performance than animal protein-centered v One-third better performance than mixed diet |
|
1986-1992 |
2 laboratory studies [280,281] considering the physical performance of vegetarians, both comparing fitness of vegetarian to non-vegetarian athletes Ø No differences in exercise performance |
|
Field studies |
1983-1990
|
Schatalova’s ‘Concept of Curative Healing’, ‘System of Natural Healing’ [55] (pp. 18-20, 51-52, 60, 63-65, 159-174), [56] (pp. 19-20): 1983 - 1984: Ø Series of 4 super-marathon races (500 km, 4-7 stages, 50-72 km/day, speed: 14-18 km/h) Ø Series of mountain trekking tours v Altitude of about 5,000 m (25 km/day) v High altitude camp at 3,000 m altitude v Foot march crossing 4 mountain passes over 23 days 1987-1990: Ø Series of 4 expeditions of desert traverse on foot crossing Central Asian deserts (250-500 km, 30-35 km/day) |
1989 |
Deutschlandlauf 1987 [282-286]: Influence of a 1,000-km ultra-run on lipid metabolism, Western diet (n = 30) vs. wholesome vegetarian diet (n = 25) Ø Runtime of vegetarians (114 h 14 min) was approximately 2 hours faster than that of omnivores (116 h 29 min) Ø Use of medications and drugs, and need of medical supply, was less in vegetarians vs. controls/other ultra-runners |
|
1997 |
National Runners’ Health Study (national US survey) [287]: Interactive effects of running (weekly mileage) and diet (weekly intakes of red meat, fish, fruit and alcohol), by self-reported food intakes of 289 vegetarians and 62 vegans, vs. physician-supplied medical data (8,891 omnivores) Ø Compared to omnivores, vegetarians ran significantly further, had higher BMI, higher fruit intake, less alcohol Ø Dietary assessment was limited -> lack of data on other foods/specific nutrients prevented any conclusion that red meat or fruit caused the associations |