Table 1.

Subject characteristics and baseline haemodynamics

Variable	Young (18–31 yrs)	Older (57–86 yrs)
Male:female	8:5	8:5
Age (years)	21 ± 1	66 ± 3*
Body mass index (kg m−2)	22.0 ± 0.5	24.4 ± 0.9*
Body fat (%)	17.4 ± 2.1	28.1 ± 2.2*
Forearm volume (ml)	931 ± 77	876 ± 59
Total cholesterol (mmol l−1)	3.4 ± 0.2	4.4 ± 0.2*
LDL cholesterol (mmol l−1)	2.0 ± 0.1	2.9 ± 0.2*
HDL cholesterol (mmol l−1)	1.2 ± 0.1	1.1 ± 0.1
Triglycerides (mmol l−1)	0.7 ± 0.1	0.9 ± 0.1
Mean arterial pressure (mmHg)	85 ± 2	97 ± 2*
Heart rate (beats min−1)	56 ± 2	57 ± 1
Forearm blood flow (ml (dl FAV)−1 min−1)	2.2 ± 0.3	2.0 ± 0.2
Forearm vascular conductance (ml (dl FAV) min−1 (100 mmHg)−1)	2.7 ± 0.4	2.0 ± 0.2

Data presented as mean ± s.e.m. LDL, low density lipoprotein; HDL, high density lipoprotein; FAV, forearm volume.

^*P < 0.05 vs. younger.