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. 2024 Aug 15;16(16):2711.
doi: 10.3390/nu16162711.

Recovery after Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Subjects Following a Vegetarian or Mixed Diet

Nicole Presti  1 , Todd C Rideout  2 , Jennifer L Temple  2 , Brian Bratta  3 , David Hostler  1
Affiliations

Recovery after Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Subjects Following a Vegetarian or Mixed Diet

Nicole Presti et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

It is unclear if following a vegetarian diet affects muscle recovery after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Sixteen vegetarians (VEG) and sixteen mixed dieters (MIX) performed a vertical jump, quadriceps femoris maximal isometric, and isokinetic concentric strength tests prior to and five days following the EIMD protocol. The quadriceps muscle was injured by performing eccentric contractions. Diet: MIX consumed more g/kg of animal protein (p < 0.001) and EAA (p < 0.05) except for isoleucine. VEG consumed more plant protein (p = 0.001). Isometric strength: MIX recovered post-day 2, VEG recovered post-day 4 (group (p = 0.07), time (p < 0.001)). Concentric contractions at 60 degrees per second: Both recovered post-day 1 (group (p = 0.27), time (p = 0.05)); 180 degrees per second: MIX recovered post-day 2, VEG recovered post-day 5 (group (p = 0.10), time (p < 0.001)); and 240 degrees per second: MIX recovered post-day 1, VEG did not recover by post-day 5 (group (p = 0.01), time (p < 0.001)). Vertical jump: Both recovered post-day 3 (group (p = 0.45), time (p < 0.001)). MIX recovered isometric strength 2 days faster, concentric strength was up to 5 days faster, and soreness was 1-4 days faster when compared to VEG. Both groups had similar recovery time for power.

Keywords: concentric strength; isometric strength; omnivore diet; performance nutrition; plant-based diet; protein; sports nutrition.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Methods.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percent change of quadricep isometric strength from baseline. Significance set at p < 0.05. VEG = vegetarian group; MIX = mixed diet group; EIMD = day of the exercise induced muscle damage protocol. * = different from baseline.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percent change of quadricep concentric strength at 60 degrees per second from baseline. Significance set at p < 0.05. VEG = vegetarian group. MlX = mixed diet group. ElMD = day of the exercise induced muscle damage protocol. * = different from baseline.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Percent change of quadricep concentric strength at 180 degrees per second from baseline. Significance set at p < 0.05, VEG = vegetarian group. MlX = mixed diet group. ElMD = day of the exercise induced muscle damage protocol. * = different from baseline.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Percent change of quadricep concentric strength at 240 degrees per second from baseline. Significance set at p < 0.05. VEG = vegetarian group. MlX = mixed diet group. ElMD = day of the exercise induced muscle damage protocol. * = different from baseline.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Percent change of jump height from baseline. Significance set at p < 0.05. VEG = vegetarian group. MlX = mixed diet group. ElMD = day of the exercise induced muscle damage protocol. * = different from baseline.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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