Blood analyses
Atherosclerosis
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Routine biochemical analyses were performed at the clinical laboratory of the University Hospital of Pisa.Plasma glucose was measured immediately during the MMTT by a GM9 Glucose Analyser (Analox Instruments, Stourbridge, UK). Plasma insulin, C-peptide, NEFA, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) were measured in a single assay at the completion of the study at the Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism, and Atherosclerosis of the University of Pisa. Insulin and C-peptide measurements were performed by electrochemiluminescence on a COBAS e411 instrument (Roche, Indianapolis, IN, USA). Plasma NEFA levels were assayed by standard spectrophotometric methods (Synchron UniCel DxC 600, Beckman Instruments, Fullerton, CA, USA). Glucagon was measured by ELISA (Mercodia, Uppsala, Sweden). GLP-1 and GIP were measured by ELISA (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany).