Au 500 spectrophotometer

Biochemical parameters were analyzed at an ISO 15189 accredited pathology laboratory (PathCare, Reference Laboratory, Cape Town, South Africa) which had no access to participants’ clinical information. All analyses were performed on venous blood samples collected after an overnight fast of at least eight hours. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were measured by enzymatic colorimetric methods; ultrasensitive C-reactive protein was read; plasma glucose was measured by hexokinase method; all implemented using a Beckman Coulter AU 500 spectrophotometer. Insulin concentrations were measured by the Chemiluminesecence Immunoassay method while HbA1c level was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography technique. The homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated as the product of insulin (mIU/L) and glucose (mmol/L) by 22.5 [18 (link)].

Fasting blood samples were drawn via venepuncture. All lipid and glucose concentrations were measured with an autoanalyser, Beckman Coulter AU 500 spectrophotometer. Serum lipid triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were analysed by enzymatic colorimetric method; plasma glucose was measured by hexokinase method.

Anthropometry was done using standardised techniques. Heights and weights were measured with the participants in light clothing and without shoes. Blood pressure (BP) were taken on the right arm, using a digital BP monitor (Omron, M6 Comfort, Netherland) after seating the participant in a resting position for at least five minutes. Three BP measurements were taken three minutes apart, and the average of 2^nd and 3^rd readings was used in the analysis.
All participants who did not have a history of diabetes underwent a standard 2-hour 75 grams OGTT after an overnight fast. Plasma glucose levels were determined at fasting (FPG) and at 2-hour post-OGTT (2h-PG). Blood samples were drawn and processed for laboratory analyses. The concentrations of glucose and lipid were measured with an autoanalyser, Beckman Coulter AU 500 spectrophotometer, while hexokinase and enzymatic colorimetric methods were used to analyse plasma glucose and serum triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) respectively. HbA1c was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (VARIANT II TURBO, EDTA tubes) in accordance with the National Glycohaemoglobin Standardisation Programme (NGSP).