Characteristics of the study population.

Mean and ± standard deviation are shown for continuous variables, P value calculated with a Student’s t-test. Age, triglycerides, HOMA-IR, HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose are shown as a median (interquartile range) with a P value according to a Mann-Whitney U. % are shown for categorical values with x2 for difference in proportions, numbers and (%) may vary as some variables have missing values. 1Triglycerides ≥1.7 mmol/l. 2HDL-C <1.03 mmol/l (males) or HDL-C <1.29 mmol/l (females). 3BP ≥130/85 mmHg or on Rx for hypertension. 4HOMA-IR 75th percentile. 5Excluding subjects with type 2 diabetes. 6Fasting plasma glucose ≥5.6 mmol/l. Characteristics of the study population.