Fig. 4

Time-course of left ventricular 2-dimensional echocardiographic parameters. a Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV); b left ventricular ejection fraction (EF); c left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS); d cardiac output as measured by pulsed-wave Doppler (COpwd); e Example of regional longitudinal strain analysis of the left ventricle. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. Red asterisk: 0 ppm group compared to baseline; blue asterisk: 20 ppm group compared to baseline; Black asterisk: between groups at specific time-point