Low-protein vegetarian diet does not have a short-term effect on blood acid–base status but raises oxygen consumption during submaximal cycling

Table 3 Independent variables of acid–base balance at rest and during cycle ergometer tests

Sample	SID (mEq/l)		A_tot (mEq/l)		pCO₂ (mmHg)
	ND	LPVD	ND	LPVD	ND	LPVD
PREdiet	38.6 ± 1.8	38.6 ± 1.8	18.5 ± 0.8	18.3 ± 0.6	6.07 ± 1.29	6.13 ± 1.09
POSTdiet	39.4 ± 1.2	39.8 ± 0.9^#	18.1 ± 1.0	18.1 ± 1.0	6.05 ± 0.82	5.98 ± 0.64
PREtest	38.8 ± 1.5	38.5 ± 1.2*	18.1 ± 0.8	18.1 ± 1.0	5.98 ± 0.95	6.05 ± 0.89
Stage1	38.0 ± 1.1	37.9 ± 0.6**	18.8 ± 0.9	18.9 ± 0.5	5.60 ± 0.38	5.72 ± 0.97
Stage2	35.7 ± 1.0*	35.3 ± 1.7**	19.3 ± 0.8**	19.1 ± 0.8**	5.30 ± 0.28	5.27 ± 0.57
Stage3	30.6 ± 1.6**	29.5 ± 2.2***	20.2 ± 1.0***	20.1 ± 1.0**	4.61 ± 0.38*	4.55 ± 0.41**
Stage4	29.6 ± 3.5**	29.1 ± 2.8***	20.4 ± 1.5**	20.2 ± 1.0***	4.23 ± 0.66*	4.51 ± 0.56**

ND= normal diet.
LPVD= low-protein vegetarian diet.
PREdiet= a fasting blood sample taken in the morning before the start of ND or LPVD (day 1).
POSTdiet= a fasting blood sample taken in the morning after a 4-day ND or LPVD (day 5).
PREtest= a resting blood sample taken 30 min after a breakfast, before the cycle ergometre test (day 5).
Stage1–4= blood samples taken after 10-min cycling at 40, 60 and 80% of VO₂max and after the maximal stage (at 100% of VO₂max until exhaustion).
PREdiet compared to POSTdiet ^#= p<0.05.
POSTdiet vs. Stage1–4 *= p<0.05; **= p<0.01; ***= p<0.001.

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