Lung diffusing capacity in sub-Saharan Africans versus European Caucasians.

•Lung diffusion capacity for CO and NO is lower in sub-Saharan Africans compared to age- sex- and body dimension-matched European Caucasians.•This difference is smoothened out when DLCO and DLNO are divided by alveolar volume, thus in terms of KCO and KNO.•Aerobic exercise capacity is lower in Sub-Saharan Africans as compared to age-, sex-, height- and weight-matched European Caucasians.•Lung capillary blood volume, not membrane component of lung diffusing capacity is correlated to aerobic exercise capacity in sub-Saharan Africans and European Caucasians.