Characteristics of athletes and non-athlete individuals.

<p>* <i>p</i><0.01 versus all non-athletes,</p><p>^†<i>p</i><0.01 versus men non-athletes,</p><p>^‡<i>p</i><0.01 versus women non-athletes.</p><p>Body mass index was different between athletes and non-athletes and between men and women (<i>p</i><0.05). Height, weight, body surface area and body mass index was different between men and women individuals in the athlete and non-athlete groups (<i>p</i><0.05). Age was not different between study groups.</p><p>Characteristics of athletes and non-athlete individuals.</p

Nitric oxide synthase 3 gene 298 Glu/Asp genotype distribution in athletes and in non-athlete controls.

<p>Number of individuals with different genotypes in the different groups. Percentage in brackets represents the allelic frequency within the subgroup.</p><p>Nitric oxide synthase 3 gene 298 Glu/Asp genotype distribution in athletes and in non-athlete controls.</p

Characteristics of athlete and non-athlete men and women.

<p>n—number of individuals; LVEF—left ventricular ejection fraction; LVEDVi—left ventricular end-diastolic volume index; LVESVi—left ventricular end-systolic ventricular index; LVMi—left ventricular mass index; LVSVi—left ventricular stroke volume index; RVEF—right ventricular ejection fraction; RVEDVi—right ventricular end-diastolic volume index; RVESVi—right ventricular end-systolic volume index; RVSVi—right ventricular stroke volume index; RVMi—right ventricular mass index.</p><p>* <i>p</i><0.01 versus all non-athletes,</p><p>^‡<i>p</i><0.01 versus women.</p><p>Age was not different between study groups.</p><p>Characteristics of athlete and non-athlete men and women.</p

Characteristics of different genotypes within athletes and non-athletes (irrespective of their gender).

<p>n—number of individuals; LVEF—left ventricular ejection fraction; LVEDVi—left ventricular end-diastolic volume index; LVESVi—left ventricular end-systolic ventricular index; LVMi—left ventricular mass index; LVSVi—left ventricular stroke volume index; RVEF—right ventricular ejection fraction; RVEDVi—right ventricular end-diastolic volume index; RVESVi—right ventricular end-systolic volume index; RVSVi—right ventricular stroke volume index; RVMi—right ventricular mass index</p><p>Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the inspected groups: athletes and non-athletes with and without the Aspartate allele. Post hoc tests revealed a significant influence of the genotype on resting RVSVi and RVMi in athletes,</p><p>^# p<0.001 vs Asp carriers within the athlete group.</p><p>Athletic status had significant influence on all parameters with the exception of LVEF and RVEF,</p><p>* p<0.001 vs non-athletes irrespective of genotype.</p><p>Characteristics of different genotypes within athletes and non-athletes (irrespective of their gender).</p

Characteristics of male and female athletes and athletes with, or without the Asp allele.

<p>In this age matched population of elite athletes with a similar social and ethnic background linear regression analysis revealed that both male gender and the presence of the Asp allele are independent predictors for higher resting right ventricular stroke volume index (RVSVi) and right ventricular mass index (RVMi) values.</p><p>^‡ p<0.001 vs women,</p><p>^# p<0.001 vs Aspartate carriers.</p><p>Characteristics of male and female athletes and athletes with, or without the Asp allele.</p