2.5. Blood Sample Collection
BLOOD
Participants were instructed to fast for 12 h before each study appointment and to drink plenty of water to facilitate blood draws. Blood samples (approximately 10 mL) were collected in EDTA-coated tubes and centrifuged at 2000 rpm at 4 °C to separate plasma and red blood cells (RBC). Blood fractions were aliquoted and stored at −80 °C for further analysis. 