Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether there are any differences in body composition, energy demands and muscle strength between people on different dietary patterns.
Introduction: There are numerous types of diets: vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian. Considering the dietary pattern, the assessment of the body composition and determining the resting metabolic rate are a major challenge for many researchers. Regarding the muscle strength of physically inactive participants related to dietary patterns, there is no current data in literature.
Methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine University of Novi Sad from November 2016 to February 2017. The study included 45 healthy, physically inactive randomly selected respondents (15 vegans, 15 vegetarians, 15 on a mixed diet) aged 20–30 years. All respondents practiced their dietary regime for at least 6 months before research. Firstly, the anthropometric measurements were done, and later the body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance and by measuring skin folds. The resting metabolic rate was estimated using the indirect calorimetric method. The muscle strength was determined using the isoaccelerating dynamometer.
Results: The values of body mass index (BMI) between the group on a mixed diet (23.9±2.95kg/m2) and vegans (20.8±2.58kg/m2) showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The BMI (21.3±2.63kg/m2) for vegetarians did no differ from the other groups. Statistically significant differences between groups in other parameters of body composition, resting metabolic rate and muscle strength were not found. A negative correlation was observed between total body fat, resting metabolic rate and muscle strength in all groups.
Conclusion: Diet differences between tested groups affected only the value of BMI between vegans and non-vegetarians. The impacts of different diets on other parameters of body composition, resting metabolic rate and muscle strength were not confirmed by this study.