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Individuals may opt to follow a plant-based diet for a variety of reasons, such as religious practices, health benefits or concerns for animal or environmental welfare. Such diets offer a broad spectrum of health benefits including aiding in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. In addition to health benefits, a plant-based diet may pr...
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Supplementation is widely used by athletes to enhance physical capabilities, improve exercise performance, and achieve other ergogenic effects. These practices promote adaptability, recovery, and the ability to train and compete. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeine, creatine, and their combination on performance and blo...
Citations
... Although key nutrients such as protein and iron are typically consumed in adequate amounts, concerns remain regarding the sufficiency of this dietary pattern for supporting sports performance [9]. Similarly, plant protein differs from animal protein concerning digestibility and amino acid profile. ...
Background
The increasing interest in plant-based diets (PBDs) results from their beneficial impact on human health and environmental sustainability. However, the effect of PBDs on muscular strength in athletes remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of PBDs on muscular strength compared to omnivorous diets in adult populations.
Methods
The methodology was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to ensure a comprehensive and transparent review process. Four electronic databases—MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus—were searched from their inception to September 2, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the impact of PBDs on the lower body, upper body, and overall muscular strength were included. The risk of bias for the included RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were used to estimate effect sizes, and multiple random-effects meta-analyses were conducted using an inverse variance model with Paule-Mandel adjustment.
Results
Eight RCTs met the inclusion criteria, involving a total of 188 participants (46% women; mean age between 20 and 65 years). The meta-analysis indicated that there were no significant differences between PBDs and omnivorous diets in terms of upper body muscular strength (SMD, − 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], − 0.50 to 0.27; n = 146), lower body muscular strength (SMD, 0.18; 95% CI, − 0.31 to 0.67; n = 188), and overall muscular strength (SMD, 0.21; 95% CI, − 0.16 to 0.58; n = 188).
Conclusions
This meta-analysis suggests that PBDs do not compromise muscular strength compared to omnivorous diets. Further investigation considering key nutrients is necessary to ascertain the long-term effects of these dietary patterns on strength outcomes.
... It's important to plan a vegan diet carefully to ensure sufficient intake of essential nutrients. Without proper planning, there is a risk of inadequate consumption of important macro-and micronutrients (Shaw, 2022) [7] . A diversified diet of plant foods offer necessary amino acids, and surveys indicate that endurance athletes meet recommended protein intake (Barnard et al., 2019) [1] . ...
... It's important to plan a vegan diet carefully to ensure sufficient intake of essential nutrients. Without proper planning, there is a risk of inadequate consumption of important macro-and micronutrients (Shaw, 2022) [7] . A diversified diet of plant foods offer necessary amino acids, and surveys indicate that endurance athletes meet recommended protein intake (Barnard et al., 2019) [1] . ...
The growing demand for plant-based diets among athletes has raised concerns about their protein intake without animal products. To necessitate this, a protein-rich plant-based meat analogue using jackfruit, seitan/gluten, and soy chunks was developed in this study as a suitable alternative for vegan athletes. Three samples (A, B, and C) of vegan sausages were prepared using different ingredient proportions. Sample D served as the control and was a commercial product. To assess the overall acceptability of the samples, sensory evaluation was conducted using a scorecard and hedonic scale. The sample that received the highest overall acceptance in the sensory evaluation was sample A, which was chosen for further proximate and physical analysis, and the nutritional components were compared with the commercial control sample. Sample A exhibited a moisture content of 58.75%, an ash content of 3.77%, a fat content of 5.05%, a protein content of 16.90%, a crude fibre content of 1.1%, a carbohydrate content of 14.42%, and provided 170.7 Kcal of energy. The inclusion of seitan/gluten, and soy chunks contributed to its high protein content. The findings highlight the potential of Sample A as a sustainable and nutritious protein-rich analogue for athletes following a plant-based diet.
... PBBs consuming motivation by not practice/practice sport: estimation of CUB (0,1) models. nutritionally balanced products, these alternatives are very common, with a strong focus on the nutritional and health aspects on their consumption (Birkenhead and Slater, 2015;Shaw et al., 2022). Our results are in line with these studies, in fact, participants who engage in sports expressed significantly higher importance for all the analysed motivations for consuming PBBs. ...
Food consumption trends have evolved significantly in recent years due to increased attention to environmental
sustainability and the search for nutritionally balanced, health-beneficial food. In this context, plant-based
beverages (PBBs) represent a rapidly growing segment. This study analyses the PBBs preferences and motivations
of consumption, studying how socio-demographic characteristics influence purchase drivers and identifying
the role of certification-related eating styles and habits in the importance attributed to PBBs characteristics. An
online questionnaire was conducted in the South-East of Italy with a sample of 233 respondents. A methodology
utilising a Combination of Uniform and Shifted Binomial random variables, the CUB model, was employed to
assess consumers’ perceptions across two key dimensions: feeling and uncertainty. Results suggest that the two
most important PBBs attributes considered in the decision-making process were taste and expiration date; the
main reasons for PBBs consumption were the presence of vitamins and minerals and beneficial health ingredients.
Moreover, considering socio-demographic characteristics and the consumption habits as covariates,
different profiles of consumers of this product emerged. This research fill gaps in the literature on consumer
characterisation of PBBs and offers a broader perspective, including the examination of attributes where consumers
are uncertain about the level of importance they attach.
... Flavonoids are one of four major classes of polyphenolic compounds produced abundantly in plants. The function of flavonoids in plants, like many other polyphenolic compounds, is often not well understood, but given the well-established benefit of plantrich diets in humans [1][2][3][4][5][6], their role as micronutrients in the human diet has been the focus of much attention. Although different flavonoids have been proposed to possess a wide variety of beneficial properties, notably anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities, it has been difficult to definitively establish a role in vivo, despite evidence supporting myriad activities in cell culture assays. ...
Background/Objectives: Flavonoids are common ubiquitous components of plants and are consumed by humans and livestock in their diets. Many different activities have been proposed for a variety of flavonoids that play a role in the benefits of a plant-rich diet. On the downside, excessive exposure to some flavonoids comes with a risk of endocrine disruption. Our objective was to define the structural elements of flavones and selected other flavonoids required for endocrine-disrupting activities on each of four steroid receptors, estrogen, androgen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptors. Methods: This work presents a systematic screen for the hormone agonist or antagonist activity of a selected panel of flavonoids on estrogen, androgen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptors. The screen is focused on the positional requirements of hydroxyl substituents on the flavone backbone. Results: Each receptor exhibited a distinct pattern for structural requirements of the flavones to impact receptor signaling. The most active flavones exhibited antagonist activity on androgen and progesterone receptors with an IC50 of 0.5 and 2 µM, respectively. Flavones only exhibited weak antagonism on glucocorticoid receptors. When active, flavones acted as estrogen receptor agonists. The findings were utilized to design and synthesize a novel flavone, 3-fluoro, 6,4′-dihydroxyflavone 14, that displays increased potency as an estrogen agonist (EC50~30 nM). Modeling of the binding of this novel flavone predicts increased preference for ERα versus ERβ relative to the estrogenic phytoestrogen, genistein. Conclusions: The structural requirements for flavones to act as estrogen agonists and antagonists of other steroid receptors are defined. The synthesis of a novel flavone offers potential for topical applications where systemic estrogen activity is undesired. However, the results highlight the potential for endocrine disruption when certain flavones are consumed in quantity as supplements.
... The lower glycaemic response leads to lower insulin levels, which promotes the process of lipolysis during exercise. [37] To improve performance, recovery, endurance and boost immunity, it is recommended to increase the intake of legumes, green vegetables, seeds, nuts, whole grains and other diverse and colourful plant products. [38] Mental health Diet plays an important role not only in physical health, but also in cognitive and mental health. ...
Introduction and Purpose of Research: Vegetarianism, characterized by the exclusion of meat, poultry, fish, seafood, and their derivatives, has gained popularity as studies continue to highlight its positive impact on health. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the health and lifestyle impacts of vegetarian diets by examining both the benefits and potential risks. Review Methods: The review is grounded in findings from 40 recent studies sourced through a systematic search of open-access databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on literature published between 2000 and 2024. Abbreviated description of the state of knowledge: Vegetarian diets are associated with significant health benefits, including reduced risks of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, largely due to their high content of fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats. Additionally, vegetarians tend to have lower BMI and improved cholesterol and blood pressure levels. However, unbalanced vegetarian diets may lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients such as protein, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, which can impact overall health. Conclusion: Properly planned vegetarian diets are healthy, nutritionally correct and can be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Careful selection of meal ingredients and adequate supplementation are key to maximising the benefits and counteracting the potential risks associated with such diets.
... The risk of nutrient deficiencies can be minimized through careful food selection and guidance from nutrition experts. 6,7,25,29,30,33 16. ...
Introduction: Nowadays, a plant-based diet is gaining increasing popularity. Guidance onadopting this diet can be found in scientific literature, as well as through social media andadvertisements promoting a wide range of new products appearing on store shelves. Byreviewing scientific sources, we decided to analyze the principles of a plant-based diet, itsassociated benefits, as well as the potential negative aspects of its implementation,particularly among athletes.Aim of the study: This review aims to analyse the literature concerning the impact of a plant-based diet on accomplishments, endurance, and health, especially for athletes.Materials and methods: The authors conducted an extensive review of available articles onPubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, UpToDate, Google Scholar, and Pubmed databases, usingkeywords such as vegan, vegetarian, plant-based,, civilization diseases, healthy lifestyle,athletes, strength, accomplishments, endurance. Studies accessed between 2016-2024 wereincluded in this review.Results and conclusions: A plant-based diet is a valuable option for athletes, offeringbenefits such as improved recovery, reduced oxidative stress, and alignment with sustainablepractices. When properly planned to address potential nutrient deficiencies, it can effectivelysupport athletic performance, including strength and endurance, without compromisinghealth. Thus, for athletes seeking ethical, health-conscious, or environmentally sustainabledietary patterns, a plant-based diet is indeed worth considering.
... This was associated with many health advantages, including the ability to avoid and manage chronic diseases. In addition to health benefits, plant-based diets can improve performance in a variety of sports [4]. The aim of the Rogatzki' study was to examine whether binding proteins and serum proteins can detect motor skills in athletes. ...
With the continuous development of biological detection technology and semiconductors, human health monitoring and intervention methods will advance rapidly at the molecular level. As the lowest level hardware technology, biosensors are developing towards micro precision, adaptation, and self-calibration in terms of technological development trends. In order to achieve good sports performance, athletes must have sufficient physical fitness as the basis for creating high-level sports performance. Protein nutrition is indispensable for athletes, so it is necessary to monitor its nutrition and supplement it in time. This paper proposed a monitoring method based on digital broadcasting system to monitor protein nutrition metabolism, so as to understand the protein metabolism of basketball players in real time, which was very meaningful to improve the physical function of athletes. The experimental results in this paper showed that the muscle mass, contraction speed, training effect and immunity of group A were 30, 37, 33 and 42 points, respectively. The muscle mass, contraction speed, training effect and immunity of group B were 65, 57, 62 and 55 points, respectively. It can be found that the muscle mass, contraction speed, training effect and immunity of group A are not as good as those of group B, indicating that protein can improve the physiological needs of athletes and improve the efficiency of training.
... They are not only more environmentally sustainable than meat-based diets, due to generating lower levels of greenhouse gases, but they also align with religious practices and address concerns regarding animal welfare 4 . Furthermore, plant-based diets offer a wide range of health benefits, including the prevention and management of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes 5,6 . However, vegetarians are advised to consume higher protein levels than what is typically recommended for omnivores. ...
Consumers are increasingly looking for healthier and sustainable diets. Plant-based diets rich in legumes satisfy this demand. Legumes contain protein, dietary fibers and starch. Technological processes can separate these fractions, which can be used as supplements, or as ingredients. Nonetheless, legumes are susceptible to fungal infection, causing a potential health concern, since some fungi can produce mycotoxins: toxic secondary metabolites. The aim of this work was to analyze the fate of mycotoxins during different stages of the production process of legume derived products from the raw materials to final products. An extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used for the analysis, revealing the presence of enniatin B (ENN B), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), deoxynivalenol, T2-toxin, nivalenol, fumonisin B1 and sterigmatocystin in raw materials, intermediate products and side streams. The alkaline solubilization steps, were effective in reducing ENN B; however, AME was found in one of the final products.
... It is noted, therefore, that the addition of UNFPs increases the protein content of orange juice. One could therefore suggest the consumption of sorrel and taioba leaves especially for the vegetarian and vegan population, aiming to contribute to their protein intake, as they need to consume a greater variety of protein sources to meet their essential amino acid requirements (Shaw et al., 2022). Regarding carbohydrates, the orange juice content is 7.57 g/100 mL, while the average of the samples produced is 3.15 g/100 mL (Universidade de São Paulo, n.d.). ...
The present study aimed to elaborate and evaluate the nutritional, physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory qualities of mixed orange, sorrel, and taioba fruit juice. Four formulations were prepared: AT25 (50% orange, 25% sorrel, 25% taioba); AT15 (70% orange, 15% sorrel, 15% taioba); A50 (50% orange, 50% sorrel); and T30 (70% orange, 30% taioba). The juices were subjected to analyses of centesimal composition; physicochemical characterization; bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity; instrumental color analysis; microbiological quality; and sensory analysis. The low pH and high total titratable acidity of the juices may have contributed to the microbiological quality observed. The average of phenolic compounds was 63.28 mg FAE/100 mL. The A50 juice significantly differed from the other juices in terms of the sensory attributes analyzed, demonstrating better acceptance. It was concluded that taioba and sorrel have the potential for use in mixed juices because they provide adequate physicochemical, microbiological, and nutritional characteristics.
... Previous research has also determined that individuals who follow an omnivore diet do not exhibit any distinct benefit or drawback in terms of strength, anaerobic, or aerobic exercise performance in comparison with people who follow vegetarian or vegan diets [40]. Considering the high carbohydrate content, antioxidants, and phytochemicals present, plant-based diets can provide both health advantages and potential performance-enhancing effects for exercise [41]. Further mixed-methods research should be completed to better understand the potential association between plant-based diets and physical activity and delve into why these relationships may exist. ...
In Canada, unhealthy dietary patterns comprise diets with poor nutrient density and are associated with chronic conditions. Plant-based diets have gained popularity due to their ability to provide a nutritionally adequate healthy diet. This study aims to compare sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics, and diet quality between Canadian adults following plant-based and omnivore diets as well as assess the extent to which key nutrient intakes are of public health concern among Canadians following plant-based diets. The study used nationally representative nutritional data from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey and descriptive statistics were computed. The analysis determined that Canadians following strict plant-based diets (1% of total population) were significantly more likely to be an immigrant to Canada, less likely to meet national physical activity guidelines, and less likely to be overweight, compared to Canadians following omnivore diets. Compared to omnivore diets, plant-based diets were nutritionally superior according to the Nutrient-Rich Food index. Continued knowledge translation on what comprises healthy plant-based diets, public guidance on the intersection between diet and health, and the completion of prospective cohort studies are needed. To conclude, the research suggests well-planned plant-based diets, in comparison to omnivore diets, offer a nutrient-dense diet.
