Blood sample collection and laboratory measurements
BLOOD
Blood samples were taken early in the morning after an overnight fasting of at least eight hours and were immediately stored in cooling boxes (at approximately 4 °C). After rapid transport to the ISO-certified Central Institute for Medical and Chemistry Laboratory Diagnosis at Medical University of Innsbruck serum glucose was assessed by a hexokinase method (Cobas 8000, Roche Diagnostics, Rotkreuz, Switzerland). Total cholesterol was determined by standard enzymatic colorimetric assays (Cobas 8000, Roche Diagnostics, Rotkreuz, Switzerland).