Blood
Baseline, and post-intervention blood samples (serum and plasma) were collected in the morning following an overnight (12 h) fast, by a trained nurse, using BD Vacutainers containing serum, lithium heparin (LH) and EDTA coagulants. Serum samples were left to coagulate at room temperature for 30 min before processing, whereas EDTA and LH samples were placed on ice and processed immediately. Samples were centrifuged at 4 degrees for 10 min, RCF 1800, RAD 154. Plasma was then aliquoted and stored at -80 until analysis. Total cholesterol, HDL, triglyceride, Non-Esterified Fatty Acid, C-reactive protein and glucose concentrations were determined using a Randox RX Daytona Clinical Chemistry Analyser (Randox Laboratories Ltd, UK). Low and high controls were reconstituted and refrigerated until needed. Before testing began, a reagent calibration was first run, in order to obtain a calibration curve. Samples were thawed at room temperature and then vortexed for 30 s. Controls were included in each run along with a pooled sample, to act as an internal quality check.