Baseline clinical and biochemical characteristics of the study subjects.^*

*Plus-minus values are means±SD. The body-mass index (BMI) is the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. BP, blood pressure; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; TC, total cholesterol; TG, Triglyceride; HDL-C, High density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, Low density lipoprotein cholesterol. 1)ANOVA, 2)chi-square test.