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Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Quality of life of female and male vegetarian and vegan endurance runners compared to omnivores – results from the NURMI study (step 2)

Authors: Patrick Boldt, Beat Knechtle, Pantelis Nikolaidis, Christoph Lechleitner, Gerold Wirnitzer, Claus Leitzmann, Thomas Rosemann, Katharina Wirnitzer

Published in: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Background

Health-related effects of a vegetarian or vegan diet are known to support parameters positively affecting exercise performance in athletes, whereas knowledge about psyche and wellbeing is sparse. Therefore, the aim of the Nutrition and Running High Mileage (NURMI) Study (Step 2) was to compare Quality of Life (QOL) scores among endurance runners following a vegetarian or vegan diet against those who adhere to an omnivorous diet.

Methods

The study was conducted following a cross-sectional design. A total of 281 recreational runners (159 women, 122 men) completed the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire consisting of the domains physical health, psychological wellbeing, social relationships and environment, which generates scores on a scale from 4 to 20. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA.

Results

It was found that 123 subjects followed an omnivorous diet and 158 adhered to a vegetarian/vegan diet. There were 173 runners who met the inclusion criteria (‘NURMI-Runners’), among them 103 half-marathoners and 70 marathoners and ultramarathoners, as well as 108 10 km runners as control group. Overall QOL scores were high (~ 16.62 ± 1.91). Men had higher scores than women due to high scores in the physical health and psychological well-being dimensions. Adhering to an omnivorous diet affected environment scores for women and social relationships scores for men. A minor effect concerning race distance was observed in women, where half-marathoners had a higher environmental score than 10-km runners. A moderate diet×race distance interaction on environment scores was shown for men.

Conclusions

The results revealed that endurance runners had a high QOL regardless of the race distance or diet choice. These findings support the notion that adhering to a vegetarian or vegan diet can be an appropriate and equal alternative to an omnivorous diet.

Trial registration

ISRCTN73074080. Registered 12th June 2015, retrospectively registered.

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Title: Quality of life of female and male vegetarian and vegan endurance runners compared to omnivores – results from the NURMI study (step 2)
Authors: Patrick Boldt
Beat Knechtle
Pantelis Nikolaidis
Christoph Lechleitner
Gerold Wirnitzer
Claus Leitzmann
Thomas Rosemann
Katharina Wirnitzer
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1550-2783
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0237-8

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Quality of life of female and male vegetarian and vegan endurance runners compared to omnivores – results from the NURMI study (step 2)

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

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