Baseline characteristics of the randomized patients and correlation analyses between baseline values and baseline irisin plasma concentrations.^*

*Continuous variables are expressed as means ± SD (for smoking status N and percentage of total) of N = 72 patients. **Pearson's or Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, where appropriate. §Analysis of variance. ¶The data indicate the ratio of the respective non-cholesterol sterol to cholesterol (µg/mg) ×100. †LDL receptor protein is given as flow cytometry-specific fluorescence, calculated by subtracting the nonspecific fluorescence intensity from the total fluorescence intensity. ‡Gene expression is given as number of the respective mRNA copies divided by the number of copies of the TATA housekeeping gene mRNA. BIA, bioelectrical impedance analysis. HOMA, homeostasis model assessment.