Health effects of vegetarian and vegan diets are well known. However, data is sparse in terms of their appropriateness for the special nutritional demands of endurance runners. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the health status of vegetarian (VER) and vegan endurance runners (VGR) and compare it to omnivorous endurance runners (OR). A total of 245 female and male recreational runners completed an online survey. Health status was assessed by measuring health-related indicators (body weight, mental health, chronic diseases, and hypersensitivity reactions, medication intake) and health-related behavior (smoking habits, supplement intake, food choice, healthcare utilization). Data analysis was performed by using non-parametric ANOVA and MANOVA. There were 109 OR, 45 VER and 91 VGR. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were determined for the following findings: (i) body weight for VER and VGR was less than for OR, (ii) VGR had highest food choice scores, and (iii) VGR reported the lowest prevalences of allergies. There was no association (p > 0.05) between diet and mental health, medication intake, smoking habits, supplement intake, and healthcare utilization. These findings support the notion that adhering to vegetarian kinds of diet, in particular to a vegan diet, is associated with a good health status and, thus, at least an equal alternative to an omnivorous diet for endurance runners.

BackgroundHealth-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.MethodsThe 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.ResultsIt 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.ConclusionsThe 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 registrationISRCTN73074080. Registered 12th June 2015, retrospectively registered.

Endurance running is well-documented to affect health beneficially. However, data are still conflicting in terms of which race distance is associated with the maximum health effects to be obtained. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the health status of endurance runners over different race distances. A total of 245 recreational runners (141 females, 104 males) completed an online survey. Health status was assessed by measuring eight dimensions in two clusters of health-related indicators (e.g., body weight, mental health, chronic diseases and hypersensitivity reactions, medication intake) and health-related behaviors (e.g., smoking habits, supplement intake, food choice, healthcare utilization). Each dimension consisted of analytical parameters derived to a general domain score between 0 and 1. Data analysis was performed by using non-parametric ANOVA and MANOVA. There were 89 half-marathon (HM), 65 marathon/ultra-marathon (M/UM), and 91 10-km runners. 10-km runners were leaner than both the HM and M/UM runners (p ≤ 0.05). HM runners had higher health scores for six dimensions (body weight, mental health, chronic diseases and hypersensitivity reactions, medication intake, smoking habits, and health care utilization), which contributed to an average score of 77.1% (score range 62–88%) for their overall state of health. Whereas 10-km and M/UM runners had lesser but similar average scores in the overall state of health (71.7% and 72%, respectively). Race distance had a significant association with the dimension “chronic diseases and hypersensitivity reactions” (p ≤ 0.05). Despite the null significant associations between race distance and seven (out of eight) multi-item health dimensions, a tendency towards better health status (assessed by domain scores of health) among HM runners was found compared to other distance runners. However, the optimal state of health across all race distances supported the notion that endurance running contributed to overall health and well-being.Trial registration number: ISRCTN73074080. Retrospectively registered 12th June 2015.

Boldt, P, Knechtle, B, Nikolaidis, P, Lechleitner, C, Wirnitzer, G, Leitzmann, C, and Wirnitzer, K. Sex differences in the health status of endurance runners: results from the NURMI study (step 2). J Strength Cond Res 33(7): 1929–1940, 2019—Optimized endurance performance is closely linked to a good health status (HS), which is crucially affected by sex. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate sex differences in the HS of endurance runners of different distances. A total of 281 female and male recreational runners completed an online survey. Health status included body mass, smoking habits, felt stress, chronic diseases, allergies, intolerances, medication intake, supplement intake, health-related food choice, enhancement substance use, and health care utilization. Data analysis was performed using the independent t-test and chi-squared test with Cohen's d and Cramer's phi (φ) to evaluate the magnitude of the differences and associations. There were 159 female and 122 male participants, with 173 runners meeting the inclusion criteria, among them 103 half-marathoners, and 70 marathoners and ultramarathoners, of which one hundred eight 10-km runners were defined as the control group. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was determined for the following findings: there was a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism in women; the use of thyroid medication and the intake of hormones and supplements prescribed by a doctor were more common in women; men reported more often a decrease in body mass due to running training, and women reported more often choosing food to obtain phytochemicals. There was no statistically significant association (p > 0.05) between sex and body mass change because of a change in diet, smoking habits, felt stress, chronic diseases except hypothyroidism, allergies, food intolerances, intake of antihypertensives and cholesterol-lowering medication, intake of performance-enhancing substances, or health care utilization. Both female and male runners had a good HS with no difference between sexes. Based on the findings of this study, monitoring thyroid parameters and vitamin D levels is required in female athletes, whereas adequate body mass control strategies are needed for their male counterparts.