Final answer:
Athletes require more protein than non-athletes to support their increased physical activity and muscle repair needs. Vegans, particularly vegan athletes, must consume varied protein sources or supplements to obtain all essential amino acids. Athletes' protein intake should range from 1.2 to 2.0 g/kg/day.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the protein requirements of athletes and non-athletes, athletes require more protein than non-athletes. This is because athletes need increased protein to support muscle maintenance, growth, and repair, particularly due to their higher levels of physical activity. While vegan athletes need to be particularly mindful of their protein intake, since it is more difficult to obtain all essential amino acids from single plant sources; unlike animal proteins, plant proteins may not contain all of the essential amino acids in the amounts necessary for optimal human health.
Vegans, and by extension vegan athletes, must ensure they consume a variety of plant-based protein sources or consider supplementation to meet their complete amino acid requirements. This is vital for their body's growth, maintenance, and muscle repair processes. Athletic nutritional recommendations suggest that athletes should consume between 1.2 to 2.0 g/kg/day of protein depending on the intensity of their training and their specific dietary sources.