Plant-Based Diet Increases Metabolic Efficiency
Abstract
A vegan diet has been linked to nutritional deficiencies and consequential physiological effects given the differential amino acid components of plant vs. animal-based proteins. Oxygen consumption and work performed was measured by an indirect calorimetry for healthy self-identifying vegan students (N=8) and omnivores (N=8) while riding an exercise bike for five minutes. Energy expenditure and metabolic efficiency of each participant was calculated and a one-tailed t-test assuming equal variances was used to compare the metabolic efficiencies of the two groups. Additionally, a two-tailed t-test was used to compare the differences of workloads within each test group. An association was identified between veganism and a higher metabolic efficiency during light exercise when compared to an omnivore group, while vegans demonstrated no metabolic advantage when moderate exercise was performed.
Plant-Based Diet Increases Metabolic Efficiency
A vegan diet has been linked to nutritional deficiencies and consequential physiological effects given the differential amino acid components of plant vs. animal-based proteins. Oxygen consumption and work performed was measured by an indirect calorimetry for healthy self-identifying vegan students (N=8) and omnivores (N=8) while riding an exercise bike for five minutes. Energy expenditure and metabolic efficiency of each participant was calculated and a one-tailed t-test assuming equal variances was used to compare the metabolic efficiencies of the two groups. Additionally, a two-tailed t-test was used to compare the differences of workloads within each test group. An association was identified between veganism and a higher metabolic efficiency during light exercise when compared to an omnivore group, while vegans demonstrated no metabolic advantage when moderate exercise was performed.