Table 3. Statistically significant altered left ventricular diastolic function echocardiographic parameters in hypercholesterolemic compared to normal rabbit groups.

	Baseline		14.5 wks		14.5+2 wks
	Normal group	Hyperchol group	Normal group	Hyperchol group	Normal group	Hyperchol group
E wave velocity (cm/s)	66.2±4.4	62.6±4.2	67.3±6.3	117.7±6.4***	72.9±2.5	100.9±8.5*
E-wave deceleration time (ms)	35.1 ±1.7	33.9±2.4	32.8±3.3	24.0±2.1*	39.0± 3.4	23.2±2.0***
E-wave deceleration rate (m/s2)	19.2±1.6	20.4±2.2	20.9±1.3	51.2±3.5***	19.5 + 1.8	46.2±5.2***
Lateral annulus E/Em ratio	6.4±0.6	7.0±0.8	6.8±0.8	12.0 ±1.3*	6.2±0.6	12.7±1.5**
Septal annulus E/Em ratio	6.2±0.5	8.1±0.8	7.4±0.7	10.7±0.8*	8.2±0.5	12.1±0.7*
Left pulmonary vein A- Ar durations (ms)	–4.8±3.3	–2.3±3.6	–7.1±1.5	–26.5±6.5*	–5.1±1.5	–27.6±4.5**
Right pulmonary vein A- Ar durations (ms)	–2.9±3.5	–0.2±3.5	–7.0±2.3	–24.0±3.0**	–3.4±1.5	–23.4±4.9***
Left pulmonary vein Ar duration (ms)	43.2±2.5	39.2±2.7	40.5±1.2	51.4±4.5*	39.7±1.5	53.3±2.7***
Right pulmonary vein Ar duration (ms)	41.2±2.1	35.8±1.6	40.4±2.2	50.1±2.1**	38.1±1.4	51.3±3.3***

Comparison between the normal and hyperchol group at the given time-point. After baseline echocardiographic assessment, the hyperchol group was exposed to a cholesterol-enriched diet + vitamin D for 14.5 weeks before being switched for 2 weeks to a normal diet. E: peak velocity during early filling; Em: mitral annulus velocities during early filling in both lateral and septal annulus; A: peak velocity during active atrial filling; Ar: reversed atrial flow; A­Ar durations: mitral A-wave duration minus left (or right) pulmonary venous flow Ar wave duration. N = 7 for the normal group and n =  7 to 11 for the hyperchol group. * P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 for comparison between the normal and hyperchol group at the given time-point.