OMNIPLaNT Study Ver: 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
OMnivorous and Non-meat eater Integrative PhysioLogy and NutriTion Study (OMNIPLaNT Study)
IRAS ID
293421
Contact name
Shane Heffernan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Swansea University
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
OMnivorous and Non-meat eater Integrative PhysioLogy and NutriTion Study (OMNIPLaNT Study)
As vegetarian diets become increasingly popular, the debate surrounding their impact on health and physical performance continues to grow. Despite concerns regarding the adequacy of vegetarian diets of macronutrients such as protein intake and micronutrients such as vitamin B12, research shows inconsistent findings for vascular, bone and musculoskeletal health compared with omnivores. These inconsistencies are often due to inappropriate data collection methods and categorisation of dietary pattern/analysis, leading to false assumptions about the effect that these dietary patterns have on vascular, bone and musculoskeletal health. Therefore the aim of this study is to perform detailed ‘gold-standard’ dietary analysis of participants food intake and compare markers of vascular, bone and musculoskeletal health across different dietary patterns.
To achieve this aim, healthy individuals aged 18+ years following a vegetarian (i.e. lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, vegan, whole-foods plant-based etc.) or omnivorous diet for at least two years will be recruited. All measurements will take place at the Applied Sports Science Technology and Medicine Research Centre (A-STEM) laboratories, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bay Campus, Swansea University and will be conducted over two, two-hour visits. Participants will complete a three-day weighed food diary between visits, and will receive a whole-body, hip region and knee dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan (for bone and some aspects of musculoskeletal health). Additionally, brachial artery dilation and carotid artery thickness (vascular health) as well as skeletal muscle size, architecture and quality (musculoskeletal health) will all be assessed via ultrasonography. Finally, thigh and hand grip muscle strength will also be measured via dynamometry, as well as a range of muscle functional measures (musculoskeletal health) and two resting blood samples will be taken to analyse blood markers of vascular, bone and musculoskeletal health.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/LO/0314
Date of REC Opinion
10 May 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion