*2.4. Measurement of Metabolic Parameters*

Body weight and the blood glucose levels were recorded after 6 h of fasting. Blood glucose levels were measured using a portable glucose meter (ACCU-CHEK® Aviva; Roche DC Japan K.K.). The level of plasma insulin at 6 h fasting was determined using an insulin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Morinaga, Yokohama, Japan).
