Changes in physical fitness in response to a vegetarian (V, full line and full circles) and conventional diet (C, dashed line and empty circles). Data are means ± 95% confidence intervals. Significant changes from baseline to 12 weeks within groups assessed by paired comparison t-tests are indicated by * for p < 0.05, ** for p < 0.01, and *** for p < 0.001. p-values for the interaction between factors group (vegetarian and control group) and time (0 and 12 weeks) assessed by repeated measures. ANOVA are: p = 0.048 for maximal performance (A), p = 0.004 for maximal oxygen consumption, VO2max (B), p = 0.067 for resting energy expenditure (C), p = 0.666 for respiratory quotient (D), p = 0.793 for fasting oxidation of fats (E), p = 0.024 for fasting oxidation of carbohydrates (F), and p = 0.082 for fasting oxidation of protein (G).