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

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. *PPP