2.9. Fecal Samples
At baseline and endpoint (8 weeks after) of the intervention, study participants were instructed to provide a fecal sample as close to the collection time as possible. If immediate processing was not feasible, the samples were refrigerated at 4 °C for a maximum of 12 h. Participants transported the fecal samples to the laboratory in polystyrene containers along with ice cubes to ensure temperature preservation. Upon arrival, the samples were weighed and transferred into micro tubes, then subsequently stored at −80 °C until analysis.