Recovery After Exercise Induced Muscle Damage In Subjects Following A Vegetarian Or Mixed Diet

Individuals following a plant-based diet may consume less protein and are more likely to consume incomplete proteins compared to those following a mixed diet. It is not clear if these differences affect recovery after exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD). PURPOSE: Document the recovery of strength and power and the reduction of soreness after EIMD in people following a vegetarian (V) or mixed (M) diet. METHODS: Diet status was confirmed by having subjects complete a three-day diet recall. Sixteen vegetarians (25 ± 3 y, 166 ± 8 cm, 62 ± 15 kg) and 16 subjects following a mixed diet (26 ± 5 y, 175 ± 7 cm, 85 ± 21 kg) performed a vertical jump and quadriceps femoris maximal isometric and isokinetic concentric strength tests prior to, and five days following EIMD. The quadriceps muscle was injured by the subject completing 10 sets of 10 eccentric contractions on an isokinetic dynamometer. Recovery of strength was assessed as percent change from baseline. Soreness was assessed by pressure algometer and compared by percent change from the day of EIMD. Data are presented as percent change (95%CI). RESULTS: The reduction in vertical jump (V:12.7% (0.05-0.21), M:12.3% (0.08-0.16)) after EIMD was not different between groups and returned to baseline at day 3. Isometric strength, vertical jump, and isokinetic concentric strength (60, 180, 240°/sec) decreased after EIMD. Concentric strength at 60°/sec showed the greatest decrease (V:33.2% (24.6-41.8), M:24.6% (14.1-35.1) immediately following EIMD had not recovered by day five in either group. Concentric strength loss at 240°/sec was greater in V (24.1% (12.4-35.9)) compared to M (12.5% (5.8-19.2)) after EIMD. For other strength measures, M was not different from baseline by day 2 while V typically recovered 2-3 days later than the mixed diet group. Pain was not different from the immediately post EIMD measurement in either group five days after injury. CONCLUSION: Subjects following a mixed diet typically recovered faster than those following a vegetarian diet after EIMD.