Table 1 Characteristics of the 100 male subjects enrolled in the study

General characteristics

Age (years)

41.9 ± 6.4

BMI (kg/m²)

26.5 ± 2.9

Waist circumference (cm)

93.4 ± 8.1

Systolic BP (mmHg)

124.4 ± 8.7

Diastolic BP (mmHg)

77.2 ± 7.7

Heart rate (b.p.m.)

66.9 ± 10.7

Blood tests

Total cholesterol (mmol/l)

5.6 ± 1.0

LDL cholesterol (mmol/l)

3.7 ± 0.9

HDL cholesterol (mmol/l)

1.3 ± 0.3

Triglycerides (mmol/l)

1.6 ± 0.9

Serum glucose (mmol/l)

5.1 ± 0.6

Risk assessment

Framingham risk score (%)

6.7 ± 3.9

Ultrasound measurements

FMD (%)

2.8 ± 1.6

PWV (m/s)

5.7 ± 0.8

ß-stiffness (U)

6.7 ± 1.7

IMT (mm)

0.6 ± 0.07