2.4. Blood Sample Collection and Processing
BLOOD
Blood samples for glucose, insulin and ghrelin were collected on ice into tubes containing EDTA (6 µmol/L blood) and a protease-inhibitor cocktail (complete, EDTA-free, 1 tablet/50 mL blood, Roche, Mannheim, Germany). Blood lipids, uric acid and hsCRP blood samples were collected on ice into serum tubes. After centrifugation (4 °C at 3000 rpm for 10 min), the samples were processed into different aliquots (for the ghrelin samples, 150 µL of 1N hydrochloric acid was added) and stored at −80 °C until analysis.