NEW year’s resolutions tend to go out the window as fast as they came, but for Christow twins, Hugo and Ross Turner, the new year ushered the beginning of a three month twin study on the benefits and drawbacks of a vegan diet.

The brothers embarked on a trial of a vegan diet versus a typical omnivorous one, with their physical performance in the gym studied by Virgin Active and their faecal matter tested by King’s College London, which has a specialist Department of Twins research.

Hugo, who chose the vegan diet, lost 1kg of fat and gained 1.2kg of muscle mass whereas omnivore, Ross, gained 2.8kg of fat and 4kg of muscle mass.

However, the vegan diet saw Hugo loose a lot of gut bacteria and pro-biotics, leaving him more vulnerable to a number of health conditions.

Hugo said: ‘There’s a strong link between poor gut-health increasing your likelihood of getting serious diseases.’

Nutritional studies are notoriously hard to glean clear results due to differences in genetics playing such a central role in our health. The twins’ similar genetic makeup means that results could offer a clearer picture on the benefits of each choice of diet.

Throughout the months without meat, Hugo’s energy levels were ‘more consistent’ with a noticeable lack of lulls in energy that he was used to before cutting out animal products.

Hugo said: ‘I was less vulnerable to diabetes and obesity which I imagine was due to cutting out all the snacks which – surprisingly – almost always contain animal products of some kind.

‘Even in biscuits and things you would never imagine had any kind of animal products in them.

‘It’s really important to get the vitamin B12 for a number of reasons. Personally, I eat a small amount of meat which just gives me that extra protection.’

The study is just the latest challenge the twins have set themselves, having forged a career as professional adventures with a goal of inspiring positive change.

n For more information on the www.theturnertwins.co.uk