Twenty (n=20) 6 week old male Balb/c mice were used in the current study. Animals were purchased and housed at Wits Research Animal Facility (WRAF) and were handled by professional personnel of the facility. Before the start of the experiment, animals were acclimatized for one week. Consequently, at the start of the experimental procedure, the animals were seven weeks old. Animals were individually housed in perspex cages with wood shavings as a bedding. A 12 hours light dark cycle was maintained throughout the experimental period. Food and water was provided ad libitum. Initial body weights were taken at the start of the experiment, and then once every week. Terminal weights were also recorded and compared to initial weights. All animal experiments were carried out according to the protocols approved by the Animal Ethics Screening Committee (AESC) of the University of the Witwatersrand (AESC number: 2017/011/78/D).