Vegan men who don't exercise much and have been vegan for a year lose protein when eating the standard protein recommendation for 5 days.

Scientific Claim

In minimally active male vegans with at least one year of vegan diet adherence, nitrogen balance is significantly negative when consuming the current RDA of 0.8 g/kg/d protein for 5 days.

Original Statement

“Both the mean absolute nitrogen balance (−1.38 ± 1.22 g/d) and the mean relative nitrogen balance (−18.60 ± 16.96 mg/kg/d) were significantly lower than zero (equilibrium) (p < 0.001).”

From study:Nitrogen Balance at the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Protein in Minimally Active Male Vegans

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study design supports descriptive claims about observed results without implying causation. The language accurately reflects the measured data.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Nitrogen Balance at the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Protein in Minimally Active Male Vegans

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2023 Jul 16

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Nitrogen Balance at the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Protein in Minimally Active Male Vegans

Score: 39

DOI: 10.3390/nu15143159

Similar Assertions

When 17 men who've been vegan for at least a year ate a diet with 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight for 5 days, their bodies lost protein, as shown by negative nitrogen balance numbers.

90%

For these vegan men, how long they'd been vegan, their age, muscle mass, or activity level didn't affect whether their bodies were losing protein on this diet.

89%

The standard protein recommendation for adults (0.8g/kg/day) isn't enough to keep protein levels stable in men who've been vegan for a year and aren't very active.

89%

Based on the protein loss observed, vegans might need about 20% more protein (0.96g/kg/day) to stay balanced.

87%