Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal: Nutrients

Volume number: 14

Issue number: 3

eISSN: 2072-6643

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030677

Publisher: MDPI

Abstract: 
Accompanied by the growing popularity of distance running, the prevalence of vegan and vegetarian diets in endurance runners has increased across the globe and especially in German-speaking (D-A-CH: Germany, Austria, Switzerland) countries. The present study aimed to investigate and compare the epidemiological characteristics associated with diet types and running behaviors of recreational endurance runners. From a total number of 7422 runners who started to fill in the online survey, 3835 runners completed the questionnaire. After data clearance, 2455 distance runners (mean age: 37 years; 56% females, 44% males) were selected as the final sample and classified as 1162 omnivores (47.4%), 529 vegetarians (21.5%), and 764 vegans (31.1%). Sociodemographic information and general characteristics in training and competition were evaluated using a questionnaire-based approach. A significant association was found between diet type and race distance (p < 0.001). In females, vegan ultra-marathoners and omnivorous half-marathoners had better individual running records among dietary groups. Sex differences in running performance had a minimizing trend with increasing race distance. Most runners reported independent race preparation (90%) over less than four months (73%). From an epidemiological viewpoint, the present findings suggest a central role of plant-based diets in running performance and behaviors among active distance runners in D-A-CH countries and that vegetarian and vegan diets are compatible with competitive running.

Harvard Citation style: Wirnitzer, K., Motevalli, M., Tanous, D., Wirnitzer, G., Leitzmann, C., Pichler, R., et al. (2022) Who Is Running in the D-A-CH Countries? An Epidemiological Approach of 2455 Omnivorous, Vegetarian, and Vegan Recreational Runners-Results from the NURMI Study (Step 1), Nutrients, 14(3), Article 677. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030677

APA Citation style: Wirnitzer, K., Motevalli, M., Tanous, D., Wirnitzer, G., Leitzmann, C., Pichler, R., Rosemann, T., & Knechtle, B. (2022). Who Is Running in the D-A-CH Countries? An Epidemiological Approach of 2455 Omnivorous, Vegetarian, and Vegan Recreational Runners-Results from the NURMI Study (Step 1). Nutrients. 14(3), Article 677. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030677