SWAP-MEAT Athlete: Three Diets on Athletic Performance

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to investigate the impact of two plant-based diets-whole food plant-based (WFPB) and plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA)-vs. an omnivorous diet (Animal) on endurance and muscular strength in recreational athletes.

Detailed Description
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Plant-based diets are environmentally sustainable and beneficial for cardiovascular health, but athletes are often concerned that these diets do not contain enough protein to support athletic performance. However, few randomized trials investigating the effect of plant-based vs. omnivorous diets on athletic performance have been conducted. Within this randomized crossover trial, recreational runners and resistance trainers will be assigned to three diets for four weeks each (WFPB, PBMA, and Animal). PMBA is an emerging, modern type of plant-based diet for which the impact on athletic performance has not yet been assessed. Participants will complete athletic fields at baseline and after each diet, and athletic performance on diets and study feasibility in this cohort of recreational athletes will be assessed. The study design was inspired by the original SWAP-MEAT study that investigated cardiovascular risk factors in adults consuming 8-week omnivorous and plant-based meat alternative diets (Crimarco, 2020).

Official Title
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SWAP-MEAT (Study With Appetizing Plant-Food, Meat Eating Alternatives Trial) Athlete

Conditions
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Health Behavior

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Diet order: WFPB, PBMA, Animal
* Behavioral: WFPB, Animal, PBMA
* Behavioral: PBMA, WFPB, Animal
* Behavioral: PBMA, Animal, WFPB
* Behavioral: Animal, WFPB, PBMA
* Behavioral: Animal, PBMA, WFPB


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Generally healthy omnivorous adults between 18 and 35 years of age who report typically consuming at least 1 serving of meat per day and are willing to consume  2 servings per day of animal meat, plant-based meat alternatives, and whole-food plant proteins. Participants will have been consistent recreational runners or weightlifters (3-4 times per week) for at least the prior 1 year, and currently run or lift 3-4 times per week. Runners will engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week. All participants will have habitually consumed an omnivorous diet for at least months. Participants will have self-reported good health and BMI 18.5-30.0. Participants must be able to commit to running or resistance training at least 3-4 times per week for the 12 week duration of the study. Exclusion Criteria: Individuals who have participated in any restrictive diet within the last month, have any known nutrient intolerances, have orthopedic limitations, are participating in any other physical activity or diet study; Individuals consuming any performance enhancing drugs or medications known to interfere with athletic performance; Individuals who have a chronic disease or eating disorder, are currently pregnant or intend to become pregnant in the next three months, or have an intent to compete in any physical activity competition within the next 3 months.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: SWAP-MEAT Athlete is a randomized crossover trial in which 12 recreational runners and 12 recreational resistance trainers are assigned to one of six possible diet orders. Each diet order contains three phases for four weeks each-Animal, Plant-Based Meat Alternatives (PBMA), and Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB)-in random order.
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB)<br>2 meals/day of traditional plant proteins (tofu, quinoa, black beans) and minimized intake of processed food, eggs, and dairy | Behavioral: Diet order: WFPB, PBMA, Animal<br>* Participants followed the WFPB, PBMA, and Animal diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: WFPB, Animal, PBMA<br>* Participants followed the WFPB, Animal, and PBMA diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: PBMA, WFPB, Animal<br>* Participants followed the PBMA, WFPB, and Animal diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: PBMA, Animal, WFPB<br>* Participants followed the PBMA, Animal, and WFPB diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: Animal, WFPB, PBMA<br>* Participants followed the Animal, WFPB, and PBMA diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: Animal, PBMA, WFPB<br>* Participants followed the Animal, PBMA, and WFPB diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>|
| Experimental: Plant-Based Meat Alternatives (PBMA)<br>2 servings/day of plant-based meat alternatives (Beyond Beef, Impossible Burger, Gardein Chick'n) | Behavioral: Diet order: WFPB, PBMA, Animal<br>* Participants followed the WFPB, PBMA, and Animal diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: WFPB, Animal, PBMA<br>* Participants followed the WFPB, Animal, and PBMA diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: PBMA, WFPB, Animal<br>* Participants followed the PBMA, WFPB, and Animal diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: PBMA, Animal, WFPB<br>* Participants followed the PBMA, Animal, and WFPB diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: Animal, WFPB, PBMA<br>* Participants followed the Animal, WFPB, and PBMA diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: Animal, PBMA, WFPB<br>* Participants followed the Animal, PBMA, and WFPB diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>|
| Experimental: Animal<br>2 servings/day of traditional meat products (beef burger, pork, chicken) | Behavioral: Diet order: WFPB, PBMA, Animal<br>* Participants followed the WFPB, PBMA, and Animal diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: WFPB, Animal, PBMA<br>* Participants followed the WFPB, Animal, and PBMA diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: PBMA, WFPB, Animal<br>* Participants followed the PBMA, WFPB, and Animal diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: PBMA, Animal, WFPB<br>* Participants followed the PBMA, Animal, and WFPB diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: Animal, WFPB, PBMA<br>* Participants followed the Animal, WFPB, and PBMA diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>Behavioral: Animal, PBMA, WFPB<br>* Participants followed the Animal, PBMA, and WFPB diets (in this order) for 4 weeks each.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cooper 12-Minute Timed Run Test (Runners) | Change from baseline in distance covered on a 12-minute timed run after each diet phase | Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12 | 
| Composite Machine Strength Index (Resistance Trainers) | Change from baseline in composite machine strength index (sum of 3-rep max chest press, leg press, and lat pull-down) after each diet phase | Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Estimated VO2 max (Runners) | Change in VO2 max, estimated from training data compiled by Garmin Forerunner 235 after each diet phase | Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12 | 
| Maximum push-up and pull-up test | Change from baseline in maximum number of repetitions completed of push-up and pull-ups prior to exhaustion after each diet phase | Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12 | 
| Dietary intake and adherence | a. Nutrient composition of each diet and adherence to diet in servings of protein source consumed per week, via weekly dietary logs | Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12 | 
| Diet satisfaction | Score on Food Acceptability Questionnaire, measuring taste, appeal, and overall diet satisfaction, after each diet. We used the Food Acceptability Questionnaire, with a minimum value of 1 and a maximum value of 7. A higher score indicates better food acceptability. | Week 4, Week 8, Week 12 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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muscular strength, endurance, plant-based diets, meat alternatives, omnivore diets