The Impact Plant-Based Diets Have on Athletic Performance and Body Composition: A Systematic Review

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #athletic-performance #body-composition #diet-vegetarian #adult

The Impact Plant-Based Diets Have on Athletic Performance and Body Composition: A Systematic Review

Presti et al., 2024 | J Am Nutr Assoc | Systematic Review

Citation

Presti Nicole, Mansouri Tegan, ... Hostler David. The Impact Plant-Based Diets Have on Athletic Performance and Body Composition: A Systematic Review. J Am Nutr Assoc. 2024;43(7):636-643. doi:10.1080/27697061.2024.2365755

Abstract

Plant-based diets have gained popularity among athletes in recent years. Some believe that plant-based diets will improve performance owing to higher intakes of carbohydrates and antioxidants. Some believe it that will harm performance due to lower intakes of complete protein and creatine. This systemic review was conducted using Covidence software. A literature search of PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL Plus (EBSCO), and Web of Science was completed on 22 March 2022. Following the development of clear objectives and a research question that identified the population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes, initial search criteria and keywords were identified. Extracted results totaled 2249, including 797 duplicates. The initial screening resulted in 1437 articles being excluded. The remaining 15 articles proceeded to full-text screening. A final 8 articles were included in the review, with 7 excluded. This paper will review the impact plant-based diets have on athletic performance and body composition in healthy young adults aged 18 to 45 years.

Key Findings

This paper will review the impact plant-based diets have on athletic performance and body composition in healthy young adults aged 18 to 45 years.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population healthy young
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range 18 to 45 years
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Athletic Performance
  • Body Composition
  • Diet, Vegetarian
  • Adult
  • Young Adult
  • Adolescent
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Female
  • Diet, Plant-Based

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Systematic Review, Journal Article
  • Vertical: creatine

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09