Research
Macro partitioning
There is no significant difference between plant and animal protein for muscle strength or physical performance.
You do not need animal protein to build strength or improve physical performance. Plant protein is equally effective for these outcomes. Focus on consistent training and adequate protein intake.
GoodRefutesMEDIUM confidence
No significant difference was found between plant or animal protein for muscle strength (n = 14 RCTs) or physical performance (n = 5 RCTs).
Why this rating
Based on a subset of RCTs (14 for strength, 5 for performance) included in the meta-analysis.
Source
Effect of Plant Versus Animal Protein on Muscle Mass, Strength, Physical Performance, and Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Rachel Reid-McCann et al. · Nutrition Reviews · 2025
Meta-analysis · 43 studiesCited 18×
Read the paper This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →