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In the general population, there is a popular belief that a vegan diet may be associated with a lower exercise performance due to the lack of certain nutrients in vegan individuals. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine endurance and muscle strength differences between vegan and omnivore participants. We studied 56 healthy young lean physically active women (age: 25.6 ± 4.1 years; body mass index: 22 ± 1.9 kg/m2). Participants were classified as vegan (n = 28) or omnivore (n = 28) based on their eating habits. All volunteers followed either a vegan or an omnivore diet for at least 2 years. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), a submaximal endurance test (70% of VO2 max), muscle strength (leg and chest press), and dietary factors were measured. Both groups were comparable for physical activity levels, body mass index, percent body fat, lean body mass, and muscle strength. However, vegans had a significantly higher estimated VO2 max (44.5 ± 5.2 vs. 41.6 ± 4.6 ml/kg/min; p = 0.03, respectively) and submaximal endurance time to exhaustion (12.2 ± 5.7 vs. 8.8 ± 3.0 min; p = 0.007, respectively) compared with omnivores. The results suggest that a vegan diet does not seem to be detrimental to endurance and muscle strength in healthy young lean women. In fact, our study showed that submaximal endurance might be better in vegans compared with omnivores. Therefore, these findings contradict the popular belief of the general population.

In the general population, there is a popular belief that a vegan diet may be associated with a lower exercise performance due to the lack of certain nutrients in vegan individuals. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine endurance and muscle strength differences between vegan and omnivore participants.We studied 56 healthy young lean physically active women (age: 25.6 ± 4.1 years; body mass index: 22 ± 1.9 kg/mBoth groups were comparable for physical activity levels, body mass index, percent body fat, lean body mass, and muscle strength. However, vegans had a significantly higher estimated VOThe results suggest that a vegan diet does not seem to be detrimental to endurance and muscle strength in healthy young lean women. In fact, our study showed that submaximal endurance might be better in vegans compared with omnivores. Therefore, these findings contradict the popular belief of the general population.

To analyze the anthropometric, metabolic, psychosocial and dietary profiles of underreporters, identified by the doubly labeled water technique, in a well-characterized population of overweight and obese postmenopausal women.The study population consisted of 87 overweight and obese sedentary postmenopausal women (age: 57.7+/-4.8 years, body mass index: 32.4+/-4.6 kg/m(2)). Subjects were identified as underreporters based on the energy intake to energy expenditure ratio of0.80. We measured (1) body composition (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), (2) visceral fat (by computed tomography), (3) blood profile, (4) resting blood pressure, (5) peak oxygen consumption (VO(2 peak)), (6) total energy expenditure, (7) muscle strength and (8) psychosocial and dietary profiles.Out of 87 subjects, 50 (57.5%) were identified as underreporting subjects in our cohort. Underreporters showed higher levels of body mass index, fat mass, visceral fat, hsC-reactive protein, perceived stress and percentage of energy from protein, as well as lower levels of VO(2 peak), dietary intake of calcium, fiber, iron, vitamin B-1 and 6, as well as servings of fruit and vegetables. Logistic regression analysis showed that fat mass, odd ratio 1.068 (95% confidence interval 1.009-1.130) and perceived stress, odd ratio 1.084 (95% confidence interval 1.011-1.162) were independent characteristics of underreporters.Results from this study show significant differences in anthropometric, metabolic, psychosocial and dietary profiles between underreporters and non-underreporters in our cohort of overweight and obese postmenopausal women.