Table 1 Subject characteristics

General

 Age (yr)

66 ± 6

71 ± 9

 Sex (male/female)

11/4

13/7

 BMI (kg m⁻²)

25 ± 3

25 ± 3

 Single antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel)

 0

17

 Dual antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel and aspirin)

 0

3

Cardiovascular risk factors

 Hypertension (medicated)

2

15

 Obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg m⁻²)

1

2

 Prior strokes

0

5

 Current smokers

0

0

 Total cholesterol (mmol L⁻¹)

5.1 ± 0.8

5.1 ± 0.9

 LDL cholesterol (mmol L⁻¹)

3.3 ± 0.6

2.9 ± 0.8

 HDL cholesterol (mmol L⁻¹)

1.5 ± 0.4

1.7 ± 0.5

 P-glucose (from HbA1c; mmol L⁻¹)

5.9 ± 0.7

6.7 ± 1.6

Blood parameters

 Fibrinogen (µmol L⁻¹)

7.7 ± 1.1

8.9 ± 1.3

 INR

1.1 ± 0.1

1.1 ± 0.1

 Erythrocytes (x10¹² L⁻¹)

4.4 ± 0.6

4.6 ± 0.3

 Hemoglobin (mmol L⁻¹)

8.6 ± 1.2

9.0 ± 0.8

 Hematocrit (%)

39.5 ± 5.4

41.8 ± 3.5

 Leukocytes (x10⁹ L⁻¹)

5.1 ± 1.5

7.2 ± 2.0*

Performance

 Cycle ergometer test, final workload (watts; W)

157 ± 48

118 ± 35^*

 Cycle ergometer test, final heart rate (HR; bpm)

131 ± 14

115 ± 30^(*)