Table 3.

Differences in biochemical characteristics and dietary composition between vegetarians and omnivores.

	Vegetarians (n = 28)	Omnivores (n = 67)	P value
Body metabolic index (kg/m2)∗	20.92 ± 2.50	22.75 ± 3.36	.011
BMI < 18.5, n (%)	5 (17.9)	6 (9.0)
18.5 ≤ BMI < 24, n (%)	21 (75.0)	38 (56.7)
BMI≥24, n (%)	2 (7.1)	23 (34.3)
Biochemical characteristics
Blood urea nitrogen (mg/dl)∗∗	53.12 ± 13.21	67.56 ± 15.88	<.001
Creatinine (mg/dl)∗∗	8.63 ± 1.76	10.20 ± 2.17	.001
Phosphate (mg/dl)∗∗	3.90 ± 1.22	5.28 ± 1.48	<.001
Albumin (g/dl)∗	3.79 ± 0.37	3.97 ± 0.33	.016
Total Cholesterol (mg/dl)	183.21 ± 41.50	188.31 ± 35.92	.548
Normalized protein catabolic rate (g/day/kg)∗∗	1.03 ± 0.29	1.26 ± 0.33	.002
25(OH) Vitamin D∗∗	14.91 ± 8.41	24.90 ± 8.76	<.001
C- reactive protein	0.75 ± 1.21	1.03 ± 2.83	.611
The dietary composition
Diet energy intake (kcal/kg/d)∗	26.68 ± 7.39	31.21 ± 1 0.70	.04
Diet protein intake (g/kg/d)∗∗	0.88 ± 030	1.13 ± 0.40	.004
Diet Protein/Diet energy ratio (%)∗	13.35 ± 3.19	14.77 ± 2.23	.015
Energy (kcal)∗∗	1391.26 ± 410.92	1767.26 ± 527.33	.001
Protein (g)∗∗	45.88 ± 16.09	63.86 ± 20.86	<.001
Carbohydrate (g)	192.87 ± 59.58	216.45 ± 76.39	.148
Fat (g)∗∗	46.83 ± 18.34	68.90 ± 22.91	<.001
Vitamin D (μg)∗	3.01 ± 2.64	5.88 ± 5.94	.016

Values are expressed as mean ± Standard Deviation or as number (percentage).

^∗P < .05.

^∗∗P < .01.

BMI = body mass index.