Table 1 Subject characteristics tabulated by sex

Age (y)

44.6 ± 6.7

43.5 ± 7.6

0.278

Body mass index (kg/m²)

27.2 ± 4.1

27.6 ± 3.6

0.406

Waist circumference (cm)

90.4 ± 11.3

100.0 ± 10.1

<0.0001

Body fat percentage (%)

31.6 ± 6.6

22.2 ± 6.0

<0.0001

Total cholesterol (mmol/l)

4.7 ± 0.8

5.0 ± 1.0

0.039

HDL cholesterol (mmol/l)

1.6 ± 0.4

1.3 ± 0.3

<0.0001

LDL cholesterol (mmol/l)

2.6 ± 0.7

3.1 ± 0.9

<0.001

Triglycerides (mmol/l)

1.0 ± 0.6

1.4 ± 0.7

<0.001

Fasting glucose (mmol/l)

5.4 ± 0.8

5.5 ± 0.6

0.226

Glycated hemoglobin (%)

5.5 ± 0.4

5.6 ± 0.3

0.264

High sensitivity C-reactive protein (mg/l)

2.11 ± 3.97

1.96 ± 3.08

0.912

Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)

121 ± 13

125 ± 14

0.015

Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)

79 ± 8

81 ± 9

0.041

Resting heart rate (bpm)

69 ± 10

69 ± 11

0.619

Rate-pressure product

84 ± 16

86 ± 18

0.327

Framingham Reactive Hyperemia Index

0.676 ± 0.401

0.325 ± 0.293

<0.0001

Reactive Hyperemia Index

2.272 ± 0.617

1.903 ± 0.403

<0.0001