2.4.2. Blood collection and analysis
Blood was collected at the Cardiac Center, SSRN hospital, Pamplemousses, at
baseline, week 14 and after wash out following a 10 h fast. Samples were centrifuged
and analyzed for total antioxidant status (TAS) using an automated clinical
chemistry analyzer (Olympus AU480, Beckman Coulter Inc.) at the Apollo Bramwell
Hospital, Mauritius. Commercial kits (NX 2332) were purchased from Randox
laboratories (Crumlin, UK). Random samples were sent to an independent laboratory
for cross-checking (Biohealth Ltd., Mauritius). Serum was stored at 20 C
for further analysis.