Prevalence in running events and running performance of endurance runners following a vegetarian or vegan diet compared to non-vegetarian endurance runners: the NURMI Study.
BACKGROUND
Beneficial and detrimental effects of various vegetarian and vegan diets on the health status are well known. Considering the growing background numbers of vegetarians and vegans, the number of vegetarian and vegan runners is likely to rise, too. Therefore, the Nutrition and Running High Mileage (NURMI) Study was designed as a comparative study to investigate the prevalence of omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans in running events and to detect potential differences in running performance comparing these three subgroups.


METHODS
The NURMI Study will be conducted in three steps following a cross-sectional design. Step 1 will determine epidemiological aspects of endurance runners (any distance) using a short standardized questionnaire. Step 2 will investigate dietary habits and running history from eligible participants (capable of running a half-marathon at least) using an extended standardized questionnaire. Step 3 will collect data after a running event on finishing time and final ranking as well as a post-race rating of perceived exertion, mood status, nutrient and fluid intake during the race.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study will provide a major contribution to overcome the lack of data on the prevalence and running performance of vegetarian and vegan runners in endurance running events. We estimate the prevalence of vegetarians and vegans participating in a running event to be less compared to the respective proportion of vegetarians and vegans to the general population. Furthermore we will validate the subject's self-assessment of their respective diet. This comparative study may identify possible effects of dietary behavior on running performance und may detect possible differences between the respective subgroups: omnivorous, vegetarian and vegan runners. Trial registration Current controlled trials, ISRCTN73074080.
Pädagogische Hochschule Tirol, Pastorstraße 7, 6010 Innsbruck, Austria.
Katharina
K
Wirnitzer
Medical Department, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475 Greifswald, Germany.
Tom
T
Seyfart
Institute of Nutrition, University of Giessen, Wilhelmstr. 20, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Claus
C
Leitzmann
Institut für alternative und nachhaltige Ernährung, Am Lohacker 2, 35444 Biebertal/Giessen, Germany.
Markus
M
Keller
AdventureV & change2V, Berchat 302/2, 6135 Stans, Austria.
Gerold
G
Wirnitzer
ITEG, Conradstraße 5, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Christoph
C
Lechleitner
Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 24, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Christoph Alexander
CA
Rüst
Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 24, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Thomas
T
Rosemann
Facharzt FMH für Allgemeinmedizin, Gesundheitszentrum St. Gallen, Vadianstrasse 26, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Beat
B
Knechtle
Diet; Endurance running; Marathon; Nutrition; Running performance; Vegetarian