Biochemical analyses
TG
Bioengineers drew the fasting blood samples. Serum was obtained from silica gel tubes (Becton Dickinson Vacutainer Systems) and stored at room temperature for 30–60 min before centrifugation (2700 rpm at 20˚C for 15 min), according to the recommended routines from the accredited laboratory Fürst (Medical Laboratory, Oslo, Norway). Fürst analysed serum total cholesterol (total-C), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C, triglycerides (TG), lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), ApoB/ApoA-ratio, serum glucose, serum insulin, serum C-peptide and hs-CRP by standard methods.