Procedures
STERILE
Participants attended the CRU at 08.00 h after an overnight fast (from 24.00 h). Fasting blood samples were taken between 08.00 h and 09.00 h for biochemistry, endocrine, lipid profiles, inflammatory cell and markers of bone turnover. Participants were fitted with a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitor (Microlife WatchBP 03 ABPM). Finally, they were provided with a container to perform a timed overnight urine collection (22.00 h–08.00 h) for assessment of urine steroid metabolites.Participants returned to the CRU the following day having fasted from 24.00 h the previous night. At 08.00 h, a microdialysis catheter (CMA Microdialysis, Solna, Sweden) was inserted under local anaesthetic (2 mL, 1% lidocaine) into the subcutaneous adipose tissue, 5–10 cm lateral to the umbilicus in order to allow sampling of adipose tissue interstitial fluid. Using a microdialysis pump (CMA 106), the microdialysate solution (physiological sterile saline solution) was introduced into the catheter (perfusion rate = 0.3 μl/min) and samples were collected at 30-min intervals until the completion of the 2-step hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp (see below).